Abstract:
Although scholars across numerous disciplines have studied specific types of career transitions,
there has been no examination of the career transitions literature as a general phenomenon since
Louis' seminal article was published four decades ago. Much has changed in the career landscape
in the last forty years, including the number and types of career transitions being made by in dividuals. Using an inductive approach, the five major theoretical perspectives of career stage,
decision-making, adjustment, relational, and identity emerged from our analysis of 242 pub lications. In this paper, we summarize research on each of these major perspectives on career
transitions, recognizing emerging trends and research gaps. Based upon an analysis across these
perspectives, we recommend seven major avenues for future research on career transitions.
