An Investigation of Career Adaptation Abilities by X, Y and Z Generations: A Field Survey

The concept of generation includes the characteristics that express the behavior and tendency of the individual throughout his / her life. In the studies conducted from past to present, it is seen that the change of generational characteristics is an interesting subject. In today's difficult working environment, career adaptation of employees is one of the conditions for their happiness in life. While it can be mentioned that there is generation conflict in the institutions where individuals from different generations work together, it can be said that increasing the studies aimed at determining career adaptation levels of generations will contribute to the explanability of the subject. In this context, under the framework of the field research which carried out in Turkey, individual career adaptability of 645 persons belonging to X, Y and Z generations measured. According to the findings, there were significant differences among the generations in the levels of anxiety and control which are dimensions of career adapt-abilities; the anxiety levels of the Y and Z generations were higher than the X generation; in terms of control level, it is determined that generation Y has more control level than Z generation. In addition, the differences in career adaptation skills according to other demographic characteristics was examined. According to this, while there was no significant difference according to gender, there were differences in anxiety and control levels according to education level. Anxiety levels were higher in people who have graduate education level compared to undergraduate level. In the control levels, it is significant that the control levels of those who have graduate education are higher than those who have undergraduate and associate education level. While the curiosity levels of the diplomaed people were higher than those who were continuing their education, it was determined that the anxiety levels of the students and those who doesn’t work were higher than the diplomaed people and employees.

Keywords

Management and Organization, Career Adaptation Abilities, Generation X, Generation Y, Generation Z