Understanding career chance

This article presents a rationale for considering and integrating the chance construct in an individual's career development. The notion of chance is conceptualized from the sociological work perspective and on basis of theoretical tenets grounded in vocational and career psychology. The article argues that the exercising of human control in the vocational aspects of life should take into serious consideration the chance factor that often emerges in life experiences. It discusses the chance phenomenon in worklife, and elaborates considerations and ways of incorporating the chance construct into the career development process; it also suggests implications for career development and career counselling. © Springer 2005.