Nontraditional Career Research Articles

Balancing the Ikigai: Aberystwyth University undergraduate students’ perceptions of careers in a modern world

In a world where career dynamics are ever changing, with a rapid shift from traditional to non-traditional careers, the needs and values of employees, and the very idea of what a career can be, are evolving too. The prominent factors in career choice, motivation and satisfaction, are represented in the theory of Ikigai, a concept focused on finding values and meaning in life in order to live happier. This qualitative study uses inductive thematic analysis to investigate the priorities of UK undergraduate students regarding their future careers. Seven semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis were conducted to explore contemporary students’ perspectives of careers. Recurring themes indicate that participants seek a career path that prioritises meaningful work over high financial reward, hierarchising meeting personal needs, passions, and missions before meeting the needs of society and employers. These balanced preferences reflect the model of Ikigai, illustrating how career concepts are changing over time. Contemporary perspectives offer insight into the workforce’s search for meaning in balanced professional careers.

Navigating New Horizons: Vietnamese English-major Graduates in Non-Traditional Careers

This phenomenological study seeks to explore the experiences of Vietnamese English-major graduates as they transition into out-of-expertise job roles in a globalized work environment. Drawing from a qualitative dataset gathered from 67 participants through semi-structured interviews, the research aimed to understand the perceived benefits, challenges, and emotional trajectories associated with such transitions. Key findings indicate that the majority of participants perceived their English proficiency as a significant advantage in diverse job markets. However, they also highlighted cultural challenges when adapting to global work settings, emphasizing the need to understand nuanced cultural norms beyond language proficiency. A recurrent theme was the perceived gap between the rich theoretical knowledge acquired during their academic tenure and its practical applicability in real-world job scenarios. Interestingly, participants also illuminated the unexpected interdisciplinary benefits of their English-major background, suggesting that their studies equipped them with valuable critical thinking and analytical skills. Issues of professional identity emerged strongly, with many participants expressing challenges in aligning their academic label with diverse job roles. Furthermore, the study highlights the profound emotional journey, from initial doubts to building resilience, as a significant aspect of these professional transitions.

Exploring how longitudinal integrated clerkships at Stellenbosch University influence the career journeys of medical graduates

Background. Longitudinal integrated clerkships (LICs) are increasingly being implemented across the globe for their educational benefits and the recruitment of rural medical practitioners. As new LICs are established, it is important to explore the extent to which these benefits manifest, and the influence of LICs on the career journeys of graduates. Stellenbosch University’s LIC has been running for 11 years, and to date the career outcomes of graduates have not been described.Objectives. To explore factors that influence the career journeys of graduates from Stellenbosch University’s LIC.Methods. An interpretivist, qualitative study was performed. Semi-structured interviews that were recorded and transcribed were conducted (8 graduates, ≥5 years after graduation). Inductive thematic analysis was done. Participants were asked to depict their career journeys. These pictures and an interview guide were used as prompts during the interviews.Results. Three themes were generated from the data: (i) feeling prepared for the career journey; (ii) acquiring a new motivation and career goals; and (iii) unexpected influences on career journeys. The availability of posts and transformative influences are important factors in the career journeys of LIC graduates. These graduates were enabled by their undergraduate training to explore non-traditional career options and preferred working in rural environments. Although individual priorities caused many participants to work in urban settings, they indicated a desire to return to rural environments.Conclusions. The LIC training at Stellenbosch University acts as a significant influence on the early career journeys of such graduates, which are possibly achieved in two ways. Firstly, LIC supports the development of professional identities among its graduates. Secondly, LIC supports transformative learning within a safe learning environment that leads to changes in perspectives regarding the graduates’ responsibility towards patients and communities.

An exploratory study on career models and mechanisms of career advancement of Emirati women managers

PurposeThis study uses a Kaleidoscope Career (KC) approach to explore how UAE women managers experience their careers, the advancement in management and the career models they encounter.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs an interpretative phenomenological approach to analyse in-depth face-to-face interviews with 22 Emirati women in middle and senior management positions across various industries in both the public and private sectors.FindingsThis research is significant in uncovering career advancement mechanisms and three career models: “my life is not elsewhere,” “seizing opportunities” and “wholehearted dedication to the country.” These models highlight women managers' pivotal role in UAE's economic development.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is confined to a convenience sample of women managers from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. While not fully representative of all local women, the findings on career advancement mechanisms and Emirati women managers' non-traditional career paths hold theoretical significance. The results challenge the uncritical adoption of Western career models, highlighting the need to consider alternative career models and advancement mechanisms.Practical implicationsThis research expands the authors' knowledge of career advancement mechanisms and models experienced by Emirati women, offering insights for enhancing gender equality in Arab world managerial roles.Originality/valueThese findings open new research avenues to explore Emirati women's careers beyond the largest Emirates and assess their broader economic and societal contributions.

Nurse and firefighter.

The first female Chief of the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department is also an RN. Medical calls exceed firefighting calls to fire and rescue departments nationwide. This article highlights her nursing and firefighting career to inspire other nurses toward this and other nontraditional career paths.

A Call to Action to Remove ACPE Limits on Non-Patient Care Elective Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences

The terms practice ready and direct patient care are evolving as the pharmacy profession transforms into a wide-ranging field of highly trained individuals. In a crowded job market, students are seeking opportunities to utilize their training beyond traditional patient care roles. As pharmacy colleges and schools update curricula to reflect current practice and drive this transformation, they are faced with the challenge to accommodate student interest in these growing nontraditional areas with the limit of two non-patient-care elective advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). This Commentary aims to bring attention to the curricular confinement by accreditation standards on elective APPEs. The time is right as ACPE is gathering input for standards revision. This is a call to action to remove the restriction of non-patient-care elective APPEs, support nontraditional career interests, and enhance opportunities for advocacy, leadership development, and innovation without sacrificing developing proficient direct patient-care skills for all future pharmacy professionals.

Gender Roles and Culture: Female Students’ Interest in Information Technology Major and Career

Stereotypes has been ingrained in the society for a very long time. According to Daniel Katz and Kenneth Braly (1933), stereotyping guides to racial discrimination just after people respond to a particular group and assign the characteristic of the group emotionally. Cultural expectations have dominated societies around the world, and become an obstacle to women, including in career. However, they start to break down the barriers to show how traditional gender roles belong in the past. Therefore, in college majors, they started to enter the male-dominated majors. This research aims to find out what cultural values do the female students believe related to gender roles and its relationship with their chosen major and career. The theory that will be used is gender roles. A qualitative approach will be used by interviewing and collecting all the data from the students who are majoring in Informatics Engineering and Business Information System (SIB) in Petra Christian University.Keywords: gender roles, non-traditional career, male-dominated majors, education, career choice

Challenges in Curating Interdisciplinary Data in the Biodiversity Research Community

Challenges in Curating Interdisciplinary Data in the Biodiversity Research Community

Courage and equality – Women doctors’ thriving at work

Orientation: The article explores doctors’ thriving in the profession of medicine in order to heed the call to explore thriving in various work contexts. This study does so from the viewpoint of women medical doctors.Research purpose: To present the theoretical development and empirically expanded framework for women doctors’ thriving at work.Motivation for the study: Although women doctors remain underrepresented, there are signs of the feminisation of medicine. Women’s ability to thrive at work may be detrimentally affected by their societal expectations that are distinct from those of men. Frameworks about thriving at work do not currently distinguish between women and men.Research method: Development of a gender-specific framework from the literature followed by qualitative data collection with two semi-structured appreciative inquiry focus groups to confirm and expand on the framework. The nominal group technique employed to encourage open sharing. Participants were seven women and six men from various medical and surgical speciality fields. Collaborative analysis of data by participants using thematic analysis.Main findings: Gender quality and non-discrimination, support, non-traditional gender roles, career trajectories and self-empowerment were factors that women attributed to their thriving at workManagerial/practical implications: Managers can improve the structuring and planning of women doctor’s work conditions and improve on gender-specific management practices towards a thriving community of medical doctors.Contribution: A framework of women doctors’ thriving at work was empirically confirmed and includes gender-specific elements to facilitate women doctors’ thriving in healthcare.

Measuring the immediate impact when first year pharmacy students are introduced to diverse career pathways

Background and PurposeTo assess if exposure to diverse pharmacy career pathways influences the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) student's career plans within the first month of an academic curriculum. Educational Activity and SettingFirst year PharmD students were enrolled in a four-week course with a focus on introduction to core practice areas of pharmacy: community, hospital, and managed care. Guidance was provided with resources and a pharmacist panel to aid in both self-learning and direct sharing about diverse areas of pharmacy practice extending beyond the core course practice areas. A survey was given at the beginning and at the end of the course to measure the influence of course activities on first year students' aspirations for varied pharmacy careers. All students completed the survey but needed to opt into the research for data to be collected. Chi-square, Fisher's Exact Test, and descriptive statistics were used in data analysis. FindingsIn this study of 508 first year pharmacy students, we found that 50.8% reported a change in their pharmacy career plans at the end of the course. Student interest in non-traditional career paths increased from 38.2% at the beginning of the course to 47.6% at the end of the course. As a result, students reported that they would select different electives (P < .001), pursue different pharmacy organizations (P = .0003), and explore new internship opportunities (P < .001). Overall, 98% found the course introduced them to pharmacy career paths they were previously unaware existed. SummaryEarly exposure to diverse pharmacy career pathways influences students' career plans.

All Leaders Are Readers: How About You?

I recently presented a 2-part webinar series for early-career registered nurses (RN) on nontraditional career pathways, which ended with my own personal mantra of “read, read, and read more.” Reading widely helps prepare any leader for any role, be it a nontraditional career opportunity or current position. Beth A. Brooks, PhD, RN, FACHE, was presented with AONE’s Mentor Award in 2017. Dr. Brooks is President & CEO of The Brooks Group, LLC, a Chicago-based career coaching, personal brand, and consulting firm. She can be reached at [email protected] .

Building skill-sets, confidence, and interest for diverse scientific careers in the biological and biomedical sciences.

Many biological science PhD graduates are increasingly pursuing careers outside of academia. Subsequently, PhD training programs are increasing their efforts to broaden their awareness of diverse career opportunities, with a firm knowledge of the skills necessary for success. At Yale University, for two semesters we have offered a new course for graduate students in the biological sciences titled “Skills Development for Diverse Scientific Careers” (BBS 550b). This course addressed career‐related topics not covered in any curriculum at Yale such as how to run clinical trials, the business side of biotech, how to convert CVs into resumes, and resilience for early career scientists. We sought to better equip students to think broadly about their career options by exposing them to non‐academic biomedical career avenues. Furthermore, the course fulfilled a gap in current curricular offerings to prepare students for multiple science career trajectories. Results on a pre‐post course survey demonstrated increases in students’ interest for, knowledge of, and confidence in securing a position in multiple nontraditional career sectors. Intentional course design can provide an adequate foundation to broaden awareness of myriad career options available to bioscientists. Broadening student knowledge and interest levels will contribute substantially to developing a robust scientific workforce.

Habitus and practice: social reproduction and trajectory in outdoor education and higher education

ABSTRACT This research aims to address the paucity of research exploring the impact of formative experiences shaping the trajectory of young people entering higher education outdoor education programmes. Ten participants (n=10) were recruited from a college outdoor education programme this consisted of 6 male (n=6) age range 18–26 and 4 Females (n=4) age range, 18–27. The research followed a constructivist emergent approach. Semi-structured schedule guided the interviews but was open to emerging issues and involved a reflexive process where habitus became a tool around which to organise the research and the analysis. Two main themes emerged from the analysis: ‘Gender, identity and formative experience’ and ‘Capital and access to the cultural field’. For ‘Gender, identity and formative experience’ there were sub themes: ‘Masculinity, identity and place’; ‘Femininity, identity and social space’; Challenging the gendered orthodoxy’ and Women managing their identities’. ‘Capital and access to the social field’ deals with access to the cultural field of higher education and outdoor education. For the young men early experiences in the family establishes the masculine orthodoxy and cultural capital valued by the cultural field. Women provide a complex and contradictory accounts of their identity construction. Challenging the gendered orthodoxy often comes with a cost to their feminine capital and status. ‘Capital and access to the social field’ deals with access to the cultural field of higher education and outdoor education. Students from non-traditional backgrounds develop strategies based on their previous experiences to negotiate their learning identities. Students from traditional backgrounds are responsive to emerging opportunities where families provide optimal conditions for their seamless transition to higher education. Women have made gains in non-traditional career paths such as outdoor education but they are still subject to structural, institutional and gendered power relations shaping their career trajectories.

Empowered in Business or Penalised in Marriage: Experiences of Single Female Entrepreneurs in China

In China, entrepreneurship remains a non-traditional career for women, but little is known about how young single women may opt for entrepreneurship against the social penalty. This study focuses on single female entrepreneurs and finds them being stigmatised as doing inappropriate jobs and (consequently) staying single. The interviewees responded differently, by (1) coordinating their career and family formation plans to make them compatible, (2) justifying their being single based on their entrepreneurial achievements and (3) compensating for their deviance and using their economic capability to fulfil other family roles. In contrast to the ‘androcentric’ business model based on carefree agents, female entrepreneurs illustrate different forms of agency to accommodate career aspirations and family duties. Given China’s market-oriented reforms, persisting gender beliefs and the socialist legacy, this study illustrates women’s fluid and interactive agency in response to the gendered penalty in non-traditional careers.

The factors influencing Saudi Arabian women's persistence in nontraditional work careers

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the factors that influence Saudi Arabian women to persist in nontraditional work careers, which are primarily in gender-integrated work environments and male-dominated industries.Design/methodology/approachQualitative research was conducted based on semistructured interviews with 30 Saudi women – 18 of whom were working in nontraditional careers and 12 of whom had worked in nontraditional careers but subsequently left to pursue more traditional, female-associated career opportunities. Interview data were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using grounded theory methods.FindingsDistinct similarities and differences between the two subsamples emerged from the data. Similarities between the two groups included men's underestimation of women's performance, lack of access to workplace sites and resources, male colleagues' cultural fears of violating gender norms and social rejection of women in the workplace. Women who persisted in nontraditional work careers articulated a high level of self-efficacy, an optimistic future vision, positive relationships with male colleagues and family support, which enabled them to persevere despite numerous difficulties associated with working in a male-dominated environment. A conceptual model is developed that integrates the findings explaining Saudi women's persistence in nontraditional work careers.Research limitations/implicationsSelf-reported data and a small sample size are the main limitations of this study.Practical implicationsMale managers of women in nontraditional work settings are encouraged to engage positively with women professionals in their teams and to provide opportunities for growth and development for all members of the workforce. Saudi public policy decision-makers, families, educators and organizations interested in retaining and increasing female workforce participation should take into account the factors influencing Saudi women's persistence in nontraditional work careers.Originality/valueAlthough some studies in Western contexts have addressed the factors that influence the persistence of women in nontraditional careers, less work has been done in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) sociocultural context. Specifically, in the present study, the authors investigate the factors that influence women's persistence in nontraditional careers in Saudi Arabia's high gender-role-oriented culture.

Gender imbalance in the genetic counseling profession: An Australasian perspective.

Gender imbalance exists in the genetic counseling profession, with approximately 95% of genetic counselors identifying as female. Genetic counseling programs in Australia have increased the proportion of male student enrolments in recent years, although this is yet to have an impact on gender balance in the profession more broadly. While significant resources have been allocated to improving female representation in traditionally male professions, there has not been a reciprocal movement of men into traditionally female professions. The lower status awarded to traditionally female roles creates a disincentive for men to choose non-traditional career paths. Although genetic counselors have expertise in both genetics and counseling, the profession is viewed as a predominantly helping profession and therefore 'women's work'. Men who work in traditionally female roles report role strain and stereotyping, which affect experiences at work and challenge personal identities. Male advantage is also documented, especially with respect to salary. There remains a lack of understanding of the effect of gender imbalance on aspects of patient care, genetic counselor training and education, and genetic counseling research.

P77 Evaluation of “Deciding on a Nontraditional Career Path: Networking Nutrition Students with Professionals”

<h3>Objective</h3> To evaluate the effectiveness of a seminar featuring a variety of nontraditional career opportunities available for nutrition majors. <h3>Use of Theory or Research</h3> Social Learning Theory suggests that individuals learn from observing others (models). Alumni can be models for students. <h3>Target Audience</h3> Undergraduate and graduate nutrition majors. <h3>Program Description</h3> Since many students are only exposed to traditional careers in hospital, community and food service settings as part of curriculum, nutrition faculty sought to expand students' perceptions of the nutrition field by highlighting nontraditional careers. Four alumni representing nontraditional careers in government, higher education, international work and business/website design were chosen to speak at a virtual panel. Each alumnus described their education/training, career path, lessons learned and words of wisdom. Prior to the program, a pre-event slideshow featured an additional 27 nutrition alumni in nontraditional careers including public relations, food policy, media, medicine, management and more. <h3>Evaluation Methods</h3> An IRB-approved survey was sent to participants via email immediately following the seminar. Before distribution, face validity and content were confirmed. <h3>Results</h3> Of the 203 seminar participants, 84% (n = 171) were students and 51% (n = 88) of the students completed the post-seminar survey. Of those responding, 87% (n = 77) were female, 78% (n = 69) were White and 91% (n = 80) were in a nutrition major. Of the 80 nutrition majors who finished the survey, 99% (n = 79) indicated they learned about new careers through the seminar and 96% (n = 77) stated they learned of resources to pursue a nontraditional career. Almost all, 95% (n = 76) responded their knowledge regarding the benefits of networking improved and 96% (n = 77) believed their knowledge of the role of nutrition professionals in nontraditional careers increased. <h3>Conclusion</h3> A seminar featuring alumni can be an effective way for faculty to expose students to nontraditional career options, the importance of networking and resources to navigate their future careers.

Changing Perceptions around Nontraditional Career Trajectories in Psychological Science

In a tightening job market, early-career researchers may consider employment opportunities outside academia. Yet there is the widespread belief that such employment experience is perceived negatively by academic hiring committees. Changing perceptions and practices around this issue would benefit these researchers and the field of psychology as a whole.

Cocreating Change Through Sport-Based Social Entrepreneurship

This article describes the design of an undergraduate course in which students learn how to cocreate change using social entrepreneurship. This approach is presented as a way of broadening sport management students’ awareness of nontraditional career opportunities and facilitating an understanding of the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed as a social entrepreneur. Drawing on situational learning theory and cognitive learning theory, the course facilitates learning through student engagement in a community of practice and weekly workshops.

Journey From Veterinary Medicine to Medical Writing

Being a veterinarian and medical writer is a unique, if somewhat unexpected, combination of professional skills. I say unexpected because many people view veterinarians as being only in private practice, treating everything from dogs to pot-bellied pigs. The overwhelming majority of veterinarians are in private practice, so it’s not surprising that “veterinarian” and “writer” uncommonly appear in the same sentence. When I was veterinary school, nontraditional career paths for veterinarians beyond academia or the public sector were not widely discussed. I didn’t learn about medical writing until several months after I earned my veterinary degree. Fast forward to today, with 8 years of medical writing and 4 years of freelance medical writing under my belt. Although my path to and within medical writing has been circuitous, I am fortunate that I have been able to combine my veterinary training and love of writing into a rewarding career. What I’ve learned about myself and the medical writing profession can help other veterinarians who are contemplating making the professional leap into medical writing.