Constructing career through narrative

This paper seeks to explain how constructivism addresses career as narrative. First, the narrative approach to career is briefly contrasted with traditional ones. Next, the theory of narrative is outlined, and some of the relevance of narrative for understanding career is presented. The notion of constructivism is then discussed from the perspective of showing that it seems to be an adequate means for conceptualizing narrative. Following this discussion, the author illustrates the contribution that constructivism, via narrative, brings to career theory, research, and practice. He concludes with the presentation of some perspectives regarding the construetivist/narrative approach in each of these areas. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.