Exploring women’s identity work in career choices and transitions: Implications for coaching practice

Abstract

Career transitions feature frequently in executive coaching sessions. It has been established that they involve identity and identity work, and can be challenging. Identity work in career transitions can be more complex for women than for men, due to biological and gender issues among other factors. Yet coaches are often unaware of what is involved in identity work in career transitions, and what their clients might experience. This study adopts a constructivist, qualitative research approach using Conceptual Encounter methodology to explore women’s experience of identity work in career choices and transitions, and the implications for coaching practice.