Coming Home to Authentic Self: An Autoethnographic Study of Multiple Career Transitions

Abstract

Career studies on multiple transition that include transitions at early, mid and late life career are scarce. Further, there is little understanding on the intersection of Basic Values and Career Anchors in multiple career transitions. The purpose of this study is thus to provide a holistic view on multiple career transition through the lens of Schwartz’s Basic Values and Schein’s Career Anchors, during the life course of 30 years including. The study reveals how foundational Values and Career Anchors led the author to finding authentic self. The study concludes with a conceptual framework for multiple career transition, including transition at old age. The framework integrates career theories which resonated with the findings to give a bird’s eye view of the phenomenon. We found, that strong values and career anchors, helps individual navigate through transitions without compromising, if the person stays career conscious to boundary situation and authentic to personal values. In addition, we found that although Dominant Career anchor may change in time, however, the original dominant anchor may emerge in late career transition if the dominant value remains the same throughout. Keywords: Autoethnography, Career Transition, Career Anchors, Values