How Young Women Who Aged-Out of Out-of-Home Care Conceptualize Career Development Success

This qualitative study explored the conceptualizations of career development success among young women who had formerly aged-out of out-of-home care settings in Canada, addressing the central question: How do young people who were formerly in out-of-home care and self-identify as experiencing career development success conceptualize their career success? Data were collected using open-ended individual interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. Three primary themes and seven subthemes embodying participants’ conceptualizations of career development success were revealed: (a) economic security (subthemes: financial stability, employment stability), (b) a supportive work environment (subthemes: feeling positive about oneself, feeling supported by/connected to coworkers), and (c) suitable career fit (subthemes: having idiosyncratic needs met, pursuing meaningful work, experiencing personal and professional growth).