An Empirically Derived Framework for Conceptualizing Schein’s Career Orientation Theory

Abstract

In response to Feldman and Bolino’s call for a career anchor categorization system, several nonempirical and empirical attempts have been made to describe the relationships between career anchors. Feldman and Bolino suggest that such a system would be useful for counseling individuals and describing their career decisions. This article identifies the weaknesses of current career anchor relationship models and proposes an approach for conceptualizing complementarity and exclusivity relationships between career anchors. The results suggest a new approach for describing the underlying dimensions which influence career decisions. Four underlying career dimensions with dichotomous poles are identified and described. It is suggested that Schein’s practice of characterizing career orientation using eight career anchor profiles may be too inflexible and imprecise to accommodate current understandings of career orientation. It would be simpler, yet more precise, to map individuals directly to the underlying dimensions that govern career anchors rather than use career anchors as an intermediary.