Positive Approaches to Mid-Life Careers

This chapter discusses positive approaches to mid-career or mid-life career transition. To understand mid-career transition, a review of the evolution of the notion of mid-career from a time of maintenance to a time of transition is presented. The chapter tries to differentiate the mid-career transition and the mid-life transition. In spite of the substantial overlap between the two concepts, the experiences of the mid-career transition and the mid-life career transition are distinct. The second theme is the review of the relevant theories that contribute to the understanding of mid-career transition. The last theme of the chapter is the promotion of a positive approach to mid-career transition at both individual and organizational levels. Although the mid-career transition is recognized as an insecure and vulnerable experience, individuals can approach it positively if they are prepared to be self-directed and value-driven.