Re-imagining career transition: What help from typologies?

Abstract

This article considers the part played by typologies in analysing career transition. It identifies three strands of typological thinking in seeking to understand this phenomenon. These are typologies as method, as a method–theory bridge, and as a theoretical mode of sociological thinking. The discussion explores ways in which each of these approaches to career transition may contribute insights or may simply complicate analysis. Positive and negative examples of career transition typologies are used to illustrate typology creation and usage. The argument presented is that while each strand can contribute sociological insights, it is the theoretical use of typologies that is paradigmatic, not method-driven typologies, for contemporary career transition inquiry.