The Categorization of Serendipitous Career Development Events
- 1 July 1996
- journal article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Career Assessment
- Vol. 4 (1) , 91-98
- https://doi.org/10.1177/106907279600400106
Abstract
This study explored two aspects of the construct of serendipity. First, it explored the incidence of serendipitous events influencing career development as perceived by a sample of older adults. Second, it developed categories to describe the events that people reported as significant. The sample was comprised of 237 older adults. Participants responded to a brief questionnaire that asked if their careers were influenced by serendipitous events. Those participants who responded yes were asked to describe the serendipitous events. The results indicated that 63% of the men and 57% of the women felt that their careers were influenced by serendipitous events. Eleven serendipity categories were identified, based on the participants' descriptions of these events.Keywords
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