Looking forward: Career identity formation and the temporal orientations of young Australians

•Qualitative methods are used to explore the relationship between career identity formation and temporal orientation.•Identification of four temporal orientation patterns•Inclusion of postponement as a process of identity formation•Identification of identity status hiatus in the context of career identity formation•Observation of three temporally based expressions of career identity achievement

This paper provides insights into young people's experiences of transitions from adolescence into emerging adulthood by focusing on connections between their career identity formation, time perspectives, and future outlook. The data used in this paper are based on two sets of in-depth interviews undertaken with 28 young people when they were aged 16 and again at age 22. We have identified four main temporal orientations (time perspective/future outlook combinations) and describe how those patterns correspond to proposed extensions to the identity status model as it relates to career identity. Our findings offer support for the inclusion of postponement as a process of identity formation and hiatus as an additional identity status. We also observe three temporally based expressions of career identity achievement, which we label: temporary achievement, permanent achievement, and sequential achievement.