Guidance models for cross-profession transition: people and their decisions of career changes

• Grant number: 12/21432-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2013
• End date: June 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Administration - Business Administration
• Principal Investigator: Elza Fátima Rosa Veloso
• Grantee: Elza Fátima Rosa Veloso
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade (FEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to explore the general context of cross-profession career transitions, considering the fact that transitions are driven not only by personal reasons but also by economic and demographic situations in the countries in which the careers are experienced. By conducting quantitative and qualitative research in Brazil and the United States (with people who left jobs in companies to follow different professions) the following specific research objectives will be pursued: 1- study the factors that drive such transitions; 2- investigate how people in transition investigate the particularities of the new profession; 3- understand how adaptation to professions different from the original one happens; 4- explore gender differences in transitions; and, 5- investigate differences and similarities in the transitions of people from different countries. The reasoning that pervades the study is that, although each person has their own pattern for coping with this kind of change, the exploration of cross-profession transitions should involve structured research, considering data about the labor market, the realities of the new profession and details regarding the day-by-day realities of new tasks. From this reasoning and, after consolidation of the investigative process that limit the scope of this project, it is expected to achieve the following results: create models for guidance of the transition that help people to face this moment of their careers; assemble a menu of formal and informal resources of research on new professions; prepare supporting materials to help companies concerned about talent retention to understand the factors that drive transitions between professions; and, lastly, produce scientific publications that provide opportunities for researchers to conduct further studies on this type of career transition. (AU)