When life turns out to be a never ending road filled with challenges, setbacks, and disappointments; you have to have something to look forward to and to find the strength to move on. That thing is what can be referred to as the career anchor; a concept introduced by Edgar Schein during the 1960s.
The career anchor concept offers an explanation to why people tend to make certain career choices. It talks about how individuals set individual goals and how they develop their educational and professional qualifications to ensure they course to reach these goals. It also explains how peoples values and beliefs influence the course of their career.
A career anchor is the value system that shapes an individual’s career choice and development. It comprises an individuals self-conceived abilities, values, outlooks and goals. At the core of a person’s anchor is an unchangeable set of beliefs and values that the individual believe shapes their life and career.
The eight kinds of career anchors proposed by Schein are: technical ability and problem-solving; service, or helping others; managerial competence; outdoor or physical activity; creativity, artistry or media; pure challenge; lifestyle; and autonomy of authority.
Technical ability and problem-solving is the career anchor that is based on the need for professional or technical excellence. This type of anchor provides individuals to the correct tools and qualifications to excel in the technical aspects of their career field.
Service or helping others is a career anchor of individuals who have the motivation to help someone. These individuals take great pride in giving a service in which they can make a difference in people’s lives.
Managerial competence is the career anchor that focuses on the skills needed to run a business, manage costs and increase profits. This type of anchor requires a combination of technical and management abilities, specifically in order to develop a successful company.
Outdoor or physical activity is the type of career anchor that requires the use of physical strength and stamina to overcome obstacles. This type of career is ideal for people who enjoy working outdoors and challenging nature’s elements.
Creativity, artistry or media is a career anchor for those interested in fields that involve creativity and artistic expression. This type of career can range from music and film to dance and theatre.
Pure challenge is a career anchor that revolves around the pursuit of a difficult and uncertain career path. This type of anchor is ideal for individuals who enjoy taking on difficult challenges and work best under pressure.
Lifestyle is the type of career anchor that is based upon personal preferences and requires particular hours and activities. This type of anchor allows individuals to manage their lifestyle while still achieving success in their career field.
Finally, autonomy and authority is the career anchor that allows individuals to have absolute control over their professional lives. These individuals have the freedom to take on any task and be the main decision-maker in their own lives.
Each of these career anchors are useful for individuals to analyze their career goals, identify their core ideals, and match their desires with their skills and qualifications. Most people identify with more than one career anchor, instead of just a single one. This is because as an individual develops, their career anchor may shift or evolve in response to the career and industry changes.
Having an understanding of the career anchor concept helps in making informed career decisions. It enables individuals to explore various career options and to understand how they can use their strengths, weaknesses and unique skills to pursue the best career track for them. Being able to identify and hold onto a career anchor is of utmost importance, especially during times when life throws curve balls and challenge comes knocking. It enables individuals, to stay anchored and make informed decisions that are in line with their values and beliefs.
