Chance Events in Graduate Career Success

Abstract

This chapter explores the nature of chance events and their implications for graduate career success. The study builds on the chaos theory of careers and explores graduate career success at the intersection of career agency, career boundaries, and career chance events. The study is informed by quantitative and qualitative data. The findings show that professional, social, and personal encounters are the most prominent career chance events reported. Experience of career chance events had no direct relationship with measures of objective (pay) and subjective career success (career satisfaction). Qualitative responses show that chance events are relevant for more proximal employment-related outcomes, whereas reflection on career outcomes involves personal, social, professional, and job-related opportunities, as well as key career competencies. The study contributes to the evidence base on the taxonomy of career chance events and the chaos theory of careers.