Callings in career: A typological approach to essential and optional components

Hirschi, Andreas (2011). Callings in career: A typological approach to essential and optional components. Journal of vocational behavior, 79(1), pp. 60-73. Academic Press 10.1016/j.jvb.2010.11.002

Text Hirschi_Callings in career.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (340kB)

A sense of calling in career is supposed to have positive implications for individuals and organizations but current theoretical development is plagued with incongruent conceptualizations of what does or does not constitute a calling. The present study used cluster analysis to identify essential and optional components of a presence of calling among 407 German undergraduate students from different majors. Three types of calling merged: “negative career self-centered”, “pro-social religious”, and “positive varied work orientation”. All types could be described as vocational identity achieved (high commitment/high self-exploration), high in career confidence and career engagement. Not defining characteristics were centrality of work or religion, endorsement of specific work values, or positivity of core self-evaluations. The results suggest that callings entail intense self-exploration and might be beneficial because they correspond with identity achievement and promote career confidence and engagement while not necessarily having pro-social orientations. Suggestions for future research, theory and practice are suggested.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

1 since deposited on 06 Mar 2015
0 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item