The Interrupted Managerial Career Path: A Longitudinal Study of MBAs

The view of managerial career success as an uninterrupted climb up the corporate ladder no longer fits the realities of many managers. This study examined longitudinal data on the career paths of MBAs to determine the consequences of early- and mid-career gaps on career success. The study found that...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of vocational behavior 1997-12, Vol.51 (3), p.411-434
Main Authors: Schneer, Joy A., Reitman, Frieda
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Business Administration
Career Paths
Employment Level
Females
Job Satisfaction
Longitudinal Studies
Males
Masters of Business Administration
Success
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Summary:The view of managerial career success as an uninterrupted climb up the corporate ladder no longer fits the realities of many managers. This study examined longitudinal data on the career paths of MBAs to determine the consequences of early- and mid-career gaps on career success. The study found that early gaps have a negative impact on income and management level. Gaps in mid-career also reveal an income penalty, even after controlling for pre-gap income. In mid-career, the negative level effect was found for women, but not for men. MBAs with discontinuous employment histories, however, did not have diminished career satisfaction. The research suggests the need for researchers, organizations, managers, and business schools to broaden the definition of acceptable managerial career paths.
ISSN:0001-8791
1095-9084
DOI:10.1006/jvbe.1996.1552