ABSTRACT
As noted in Chapter 1, profound changes are taking place in the structure of career opportunities within work organisations. Pressures to adapt to more competitive and changing environments are leading to ‘downsizing’, internal restructuring, ‘delayering’ and rapid changes in skill requirements. The new ‘career realities’ which have resulted include uncertainty, insecurity, increased mobility between occupations, non-standard employment contracts, and increased part-time working. Significantly, many employees are being told that their organisations can no longer take responsibility for their long-term careers. Career management is coming to be seen as the individual’s own responsibility; ‘objective’ career paths are being replaced by ‘subjective’ careers which emphasise self-direction and personal autonomy.
