Attributions about subjectively defined career success in different occupations

The present study investigated the applicability of the attributional theory of motivation to career research. The idea that the perceived causes of individuals' subjective definitions of their career success varied for different occupations was examined. Subjects that were studied represented occupations from each of Holland's six occupational types. The occupations were mechanical engineering, medicine, fine arts and journalism, registered nursing, law, and accounting. Responses from 395 individuals showed that other's unstable effort and luck attributions about the perceived causes of incumbents' career success varied for different occupations. Implications are discussed.