Career transitions and career success in the ‘new’ career era

The ‘new’ career, most notably the boundaryless career, is associated with high career mobility, which is in turn associated with employability and career success of individuals. The current study examined how frequency, form (organisational, horizontal or vertical) and impact (objective career success) of career transitions have changed across two cohorts of Austrian business graduates (1970 and 1990) throughout the first 15 years of their careers (n = 291). Data for the study were collected by way of standardised questionnaires; participants' career transitions (n = 807) were plotted based on curriculum-vitae type lists of their successive jobs. This research examined two assumptions: (1) that careers have become more turbulent and complex and (2) that this is generally a positive evolution for individuals. Results indicate that overly dramatic claims about the ‘death’ of the traditional-organisational career need to be reconsidered.

► This study examined frequency, form and impact of career transitions in two cohorts.
► This research examined if careers have become more turbulent and complex.
► It examined if the ‘new’ career is generally a positive evolution for individuals.
► Career transitions in the ‘new’ career era showed less wage increase.
► Dramatic claims about the ‘death’ of the traditional career need to be reconsidered.