Reflective practice and career decision-making: the role of emotions

This interview study introduces a theoretical model to explain when, how and to what extent Dutch bank employees, trapped in the ‘golden cage’ of preferred work-related attributes, reflect on their careers when these attributes are absent. It also investigates the role of cognitive dissonance and emotions in career decision-making. To inductively explore career decision-making and subsequently construct new theory, we utilized the principles and procedures of Grounded Theory. Theoretical saturation was reached after eight interviews. Our research shows that having positive feelings towards work-related attributes, such as client interactions, pleasant colleagues, or intellectually stimulating work, lead workers to make decisions in their work unconsciously or intuitively. However, the absence of these attributes triggers negative emotions, prompting reflection. During this reflective process, workers examine their emotions, beliefs, and preferences, and the situation they are in. When faced with cognitive dissonance, they either adopt dissonance reduction strategies or consciously decide to change the situation and act accordingly.