Amy Wrzesniewski

This paper presents a model of the influence of work meanings on individual job transitions and tests it in a longitudinal field study and qualitative interview study. It introduces the construct of work orientation – how work relates to sense of self, as reflected in work feelings, behaviors, and the goals individuals have for working – and examines its effects on job transitions. Interview data showed that the jobs individuals sought during job transitions closely mapped work orientation. Longitudinal data from 1,487 recently unemployed respondents showed that work orientation predicted quality of new job and improvements in occupational level in the new job. The results support a goal-based approach to understanding the relationship between the meaning of work and how individuals make job transitions.