EMERGING PARADIGMS IN CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION: INTEGRATING GENERATIONAL VALUES, ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE, AND WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE

Abstract

This paper presents an extensive qualitative literature review on the evolving relationships between career development and professional satisfaction, with a particular emphasis on shifting generational values and workplace transformations. Data from peer-reviewed journal articles and scholarly texts reveal that traditional linear trajectories toward advancement no longer suffice in accounting for the diverse aspirations and challenges of the contemporary workforce. Findings underscore the critical importance of subjective meaning-making, inclusiveness, flexible leadership, and ongoing learning opportunities in shaping both career trajectories and overall satisfaction. Generational variation emerges as a defining influence, as newer entrants to the workforce frequently reject hierarchical advancement and demand humane, flexible, and values-driven employment environments. Simultaneously, the digitalization of work, coupled with changing managerial models and rising expectations for autonomy, creates new complexities in achieving lasting job satisfaction. The review concludes that qualitative inquiry remains indispensable for accurately capturing the lived experiences and fluctuating motivations of employees, urging organizations to implement adaptive, inclusive, and developmental policies. The resultant synthesis offers robust implications for managerial practice and future research, encouraging frequent reassessment of organizational strategies to support both individual and collective achievement.