Cognitive and affective processes underlying career change

Abstract

PurposeAligning social identity and career identity has become increasingly complex due to growth in the pursuit of meaningful careers that offer very long‐term personal satisfaction and stability. This paper aims to explore the complex cognitive and affective thought process involved in the conscious planning of voluntary career change.Design/methodology/approachA review of recent findings relevant to voluntary career change decisions was performed in order to develop a better understanding of psychological and sociological processes contributing to the pursuit of an MBA degree and subsequent employee mobility.FindingsComplex rational and emotional thoughts contribute to the definition and pursuit of proximal and distal career goals which stimulate self‐efficacy drives as they are achieved.Practical implicationsBecause realistic forecasting of very long‐term distal goals is extremely challenging, career seekers must carefully consider how proximal and distal goal pursuit, such as an MBA degree, contribute to personal identity. Goal pursuit merely for the sake of advancing self‐efficacy will likely prove insufficient to anchor individuals within a career and cement their identity.Social implicationsAs part of their career change strategy, individuals frequently chose to enrol in an MBA program to rapidly develop competencies and experiment with new career options. Consequently, there is a growing disconnection between the career options offered by employers and the choices that employees are seeking.Originality/valueThe paper explores the psychological processes that contribute to the pursuit of “boundaryless” careers. Boundaryless career growth is attainable through improvements in communication that aid the definition of “reality”.