Protean career development: Exploring the individuals, organizational and job-related factors

Abstract

Due to dynamics on both external and internal business environments, new forms of career management and career progression are increasingly being adopted at the individual level to maximize career success. Employees are now more inclined to setup their own career agendas and establish benchmarks in measuring career success in a new trend as emphasized in protean career. Based on the SCCT and JCM models, the study provides a theoretical framework that examines the predictive potential of the individual, organizational and job-related factors in explaining protean career among professional employees. The study is exploratory on the grounds of literature review. Professional employees may gain insights of the importance of protean career in career development process. Practical interventions for HRD professionals are suggested to assist individuals and organisations towards protean career management. Future research could provide a more holistic view of protean career and develop additional propositions.