ABSTRACT
This chapter provides some background to Ashton and Field's approach. It examines the young workers' experiences of transition from school to work and subsequent work and life histories. The chapter provides a broad overview of the data highlighting key trends, employment outcomes and work experiences, as described by the respondents themselves. It offers six qualitative vignettes to illustrate the broad themes authors have found. The chapter reflects on what can be learned from the experiences of this cohort of young workers, highlighting potential implications for those making the transition from school to work today. It acknowledges the significance of what Gidden's labels fateful moments and what Thomson et al. refer to as critical moments; incidences that were highly significant for the young workers but which were not acknowledged in Ashton and Field's original analysis. Many respondents experienced breaks in employment, significant divergences from their predicted careers early on and reversals in their employment trajectories.
