Career empowerment: a qualitative exploratory investigation of perceived career control

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore how individuals perceive control over their careers. While careers are increasingly understood to be agentic, agency and control are often assumed rather than explicitly conceptualized. Therefore, there is a need to investigate how people perceive the control they have in order to better understand the role of agency and subjective control in career-related behaviors. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 participants from diverse occupations and demographics (e.g. age and gender). The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings We identified seven unique themes, namely autonomy, impact, meaning, competence, clarity, growth and support. Research limitations/implications This qualitative study provides a detailed exploration of perceived career control, which we then label “career empowerment.” The findings can improve our understanding of career-related behaviors and outcomes. Practical implications Practical implications pertain to career counseling and organizational support for individuals in achieving their career goals. Originality/value While existing career theories predominantly focus on proactive career behaviors and capabilities, the concept of perceived career control as preceding proactivity encourages future research into the full spectrum of active and passive behaviors.