What constitutes a good career? A vision of responsive careers and choices in the broader interest

Authors

  • Jouke Post Msc Saxion University of Applied Sciences
  • Jan Woldendorp Msc

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20856/jnicec.5604

Keywords:

fit, freedom, solidarity, values, responsiveness

Abstract

This article examines    the    tension    between    individual    freedom    of    choice    (personal fit) and collective necessity (social fit) against the backdrop of the current labour market crisis. Whereas the focus has historically shifted from social necessity to personal self-development, shortages in crucial sectors are now forcing a moral and political revaluation of what constitutes a ‘good career’. The authors advocate the development of responsive career paths that explicitly link individual desires with societal interests. Through value-driven guidance, a new balance can be found between personal meaning (personal fit) and the solidarity necessary for a sustainable society (social  fit).    

Author Biographies

  • Jouke Post Msc, Saxion University of Applied Sciences

    Jouke Post, researcher at Saxion UAS and career expert at James, a career division of the trade union CNV, the Netherlands

  • Jan Woldendorp Msc

    Jan Woldendorp, lecturer and researcher at Saxion UAS, the Netherlands.  

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Published

02-05-2026