Mid-career reframing: the learning and development processes through which individuals seek to effect major career changes

Abstract

This article focuses upon the processes whereby individuals reframe their career goals and career direction mid-way through their working lives. Three cases, drawn from Denmark, Germany and Italy, are used to exemplify these processes. The cases are part of a larger study which included the development of a model that could accommodate the different ways in which learning could support labour market transitions across the life-course, where these transitions may involve shifts away from initial occupational identities. The model was used to inform the case analysis whereby career reframing processes could be viewed from three perspectives: reframing as a process of identity development, as a form of relational, emotional, practical and cognitive development and taking place within particular opportunity structures.

Keywords:

• career development
• narrative approaches
• career guidance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Alan Brown is a Professorial Fellow at the Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick. His current research, which has a strong international orientation, focuses mainly upon changing occupational identities, continuing vocational training, developing adaptability in the labour market, and supporting knowledge sharing and development and learning in professional communities of practice.