From books to business: The impact of career goal achievement on career sustainability during the school-to-work transition

In this qualitative longitudinal study, we investigate how discrepancies between career goals set before graduation (T1) and actual achievements one year later (T2) shape the sustainability of emerging adults’ careers. Although prior research has shown that career goal discrepancies can challenge early career development, little is known about how such discrepancies emerge and are navigated during the school-to-work transition. Based on a one-year interview study of 36 participants, we identify three qualitatively distinct patterns: responsive alignment, recalibration and erosion, and reorientation after disruption. We also analyzed how the discrepancies shape participants’ happiness, health, and productivity. Beyond uncovering these patterns, we explore behaviors (e.g., reflection, planning, adaptability) and contextual factors (e.g., family support) that explain why discrepancies emerge and how they are navigated. Adding to the consensus that goal alignment is needed to support career sustainability, we demonstrate that even misalignment can catalyze growth when approached with adaptive reflection. We advance sustainable career theory by reframing discrepancies not as static shortfalls, but as dynamic interpretive experiences that can either disrupt or enhance career sustainability depending on how individuals and their contexts respond. In doing so, we contribute to broader debates on how young people build sustainable careers in uncertain labor markets.