Abstract
Young professionals must navigate career development with adaptability, self-direction, and resilience in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous career environment. In South Africa, this challenge is intensified by socio-cultural dynamics and the legacy of apartheid, which continue to shape organisational practices and individual career trajectories.
This study explored how socio-cultural factors and organisational practices influence the development of protean career attitudes and their impact on the psychological well-being of young professionals in South Africa. A qualitative, interpretive research design was employed. Ten young professionals were purposively sampled to reflect demographic and occupational diversity. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) guidelines.
Three major themes emerged: (1) the importance of agency and self-directedness in navigating careers, (2) the critical role of organisational support structures in fostering career adaptability and well-being, and (3) the influence of socio-cultural identity on career meaning and psychological resilience. Participants demonstrating strong PCAs reported higher purpose, satisfaction, and well-being levels. The findings emphasise the dynamic interplay between individual agency, socio-cultural context, and organisational environment in shaping young professionals' career development and well-being.
Practical implications for career counselling, organisational human resource practices, and future research directions are discussed.