ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a number of ways in which a career and career-related topics can be viewed. It starts by looking at the more traditional perspectives on careers, namely the advancement/stability theme, the professional view of careers, and the career as a calling concept. The chapter provides a discussion of more contemporary perspectives, including the protean and boundaryless themes, kaleidoscope and customized careers, the effects of social influences on careers, and the differing meanings of career success. It considers different views of adult life development, providing brief descriptions of the pioneering works of Erik Erikson and Daniel Levinson and his colleagues. The chapter discusses how chronological age and generational differences can provide insight into career development. In addition, another aspect of this theme revolves around the career as a source of stability within a single occupational field or closely connected fields.
