Age

 

Life Stage

Adolescence

14-25

Early Adulthood

25-45

Middle Adulthood

45-65

Late Adulthood

65 & Over

Decline Giving less time to hobbies Reducing sports participation Focusing on essentials Reducing working hours
Maintenance Verifying current occupational choice Making occupational position secure Holding one's own against competition Keeping what one enjoys
Establishment Getting started in a chosen field Settling down in a suitable position Developing new skills Doing things one has wanted to do
Exploration Learning more about opportunities Finding desired opportunity Identifying new tasks to work on Finding a good retirement place
Growth Developing a realistic self-concept Learning to relate to others Accepting one's own limitations Developing and valuing nonoccupational roles

Cycling and Recycling of Developmental Tasks Throughout the Life Span

Super, D.E. (1990). A life-span, life-space approach to career development. In D. Brown & L. Brooks (Eds.) Career choice and development: Applying contemporary theories to practice (2nd ed.), p. 216. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.