Career Stage Three: Establishment
The years of vocational establishment, generally defined as ages
twenty-five to forty-four, involve the implementation of a self-con-
cept in an occupational role. The goal of the establishment years is
to effect a cohesion between one’s inner and outer worlds. The
work performed, in addition to making a living, should contribute
to making a life. It should be a vocational manifestation of self—
ideally, a manifesto that proclaims the passions that move one and
the proclivities that direct this movement. When work is just a job
done for hire—a travail—then outlets for self-concepts must be
sought from other life roles in the theaters of family, friendship, and
leisure.
The three vocational development tasks of the establishment
stage outline how society expects one to both hold a job and be held
in community. Implementation of a self-concept first means stabiliz-
ing in an occupational position that allows self-expression. Stabiliz-
ing requires that one take hold of a position and make one’s place
secure by assimilating the organizational culture and performing job
duties satisfactorily. The middle years of the establishment stage
involve consolidating one’s position by demonstrating positive work
attitudes and productive habits, as well as cultivating congenial rela-
tionships with coworkers. Consolidation includes refinement of the
self-concept in response to the requirements of reality. Refinements
in one’s conception of self add depth and substance to one’s life story
and enhance its viability by clarifying purpose, recognizing subtleties
and imperfections, and increasing coherence. Refining one’s self-por-
trait can reveal, for the first time, glimpses of an untapped potential
for leadership, creativity, entrepreneurship, or adventure. This vision
may lead individuals to face the third task of the establishment stage,
namely, advancement to new or different responsibilities. With a
refined view of self, they may seek better opportunities for self-
expression in their current organization, other organizations, or even
in different occupations. Advancement can sometimes come from a
lateral move if the movement increases person-environment fit.
178 CAREER CHOICE AND DEVELOPMENT