The construct of career success: measurement issues and an empirical example

Andrea E. Abele, Daniel Spurk and Judith Volmer
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Andrea E. Abele: Chair of Social Psychology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Daniel Spurk: Chair of Social Psychology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Judith Volmer: Chair of Social Psychology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung - Journal for Labour Market Research, 2011, vol. 43, issue 3, 195-206

Abstract: "The aim of the present paper is twofold. We first give an overview of the multi-faceted construct of career success with its 'objective' (real attainments) and 'subjective' (perceived attainments) components and with the different methodologies measuring them ('subjectivist' vs. 'objectivist' approaches). We also discuss the relationship between the different components of career success as revealed in the literature. Our second aim is to show that the interrelationship between the different facets of career success varies with the employment context. We analyze subjective and objective career success measures collected from professionals working either in the private sector, in the public sector, or that are self-employed. Our findings show that objective success and subjective success are more closely related in the private and self-employment sectors than in the public sector. Moreover, the interrelationship between objective and subjective success varies with the specific subjective success measure chosen. It is stronger for an 'other-referent' subjective success measure than for a 'self-referent' subjective success measure. Conclusions regarding the measurement of career success as well as regarding the relevance of subjective success for studying occupational careers are drawn." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Keywords: Bundesrepublik Deutschland; Berufserfolg; Berufserfolg; Berufserfolg; Berufszufriedenheit; Einkommen; empirische Sozialforschung; Hochschulabsolventen; Akademiker; Konzeption; Messung; öffentlicher Dienst; Privatwirtschaft; qualitative Methode; quantitative Methode; Selbständige; Selbsteinschätzung; Stellung im Beruf; Arbeitszufriedenheit (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-07-07
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s12651-010-0034-6

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