Exploring the Components of Career Well-Being and the Emotions Associated with Significant Career Experiences
- 1 December 2008
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Career Development
- Vol. 35 (2) , 166-186
Abstract
This study aimed to identify the main features of career well-being and the emotions people experience as they navigate their careers. Data from 89 individuals working in various occupations suggested seven features of career well-being involving the following: career transitions, interpersonal relationships, relationship with the organization, work performance, sense of purpose, learning and development, and work—life issues. Fifteen positive and 24 negative emotions were reported, and several career experiences were associated with wide-ranging emotions. Moving to a new role was particularly likely to involve a mixture of positive and negative emotions. Participants frequently gave examples of interpersonal difficulties as negative career experiences, and these sometimes led to profound feelings of unhappiness and worthlessness. Implications for career counseling and career management are discussed.Keywords
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