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The relationship between personal identity and experience of individual career change and flexible working was investigated. Cluster analyses with survey data from 596 employees in 14 companies with varying levels of flexibility indicated the existence of four types of personal identity: the critical-flexible, self-determined, continuous, and job-centred type. The types were explicated further on the basis of narrative interviews with 59 individuals with either a continuous or discontinuous work biography. The types differed significantly in the identity dimensions biographical continuity, ecological consistency, and locus of control as well as in career-related self-esteem and satisfaction with their employment situation, especially their psychological contract. The continuous type expressed the highest and the critical-flexible type the least satisfaction. Consequences for career management and identity research are discussed.
Grote et al. (Sun,) studied this question.