Leaving the rat race to get a life: a study of midlife career downshifting

'Downshifting' typically refers to a contemporary phenomenon where professionals, executives and managers voluntarily opt out of financially rewarding career paths to earn their living in alternative ways, involving lowered income and status. Since there was little systematic research on this phenomenon, this study aimed to provide further understanding of career downshifting from a phenomenological perspective. The central research question posed was 'How do downshifters experience their career change?' Supplementary research questions included: (a) How can career downshifting be more easeful? (b) Are there gender differences? and (c) What, if any, general midlife issues are implicated in career downshifting? To address the main aim of the research, a primary qualitative approach using semi-structured depth interviews was employed. A self-report questionnaire was also used to provide supplementary quantitative data. The procedures for heuristic enquiry recommended by Moustakas (1999) formed the basis for the analysis of the qualitative data. As a result of downshifting, participants reported that they lost 54% oftheir previous income, on average. This study found that both organisational and personal considerations contributed to participants deciding to downshift their careers. Using the terminology of Derr (1986), prior to career downshifting, participants were predominantly oriented towards 'getting ahead', 'getting high' or 'getting secure'. After career downshifting, participants were more oriented towards 'getting free', 'getting balanced' and 'getting authentic'. The phenomenological experiences of career downshifters included seven core themes: (a) Awareness of the need for change; (b) Struggle with the need for change; (c) Feeling down; (d) Facing difficulties and confronting issues; (e) Incubation; (f) Emergence; and (g) Possible positive outcomes. Positive benefits of career downshifting included greater satisfaction with life, and perceptions of greater autonomy, greater environmental mastery, greater self acceptance, better relations with others, and increased personal growth. Nevertheless, career downshifting is not easy since it involves personal change of a large magnitude, and results in losses such as loss of income and social status. However, greater ease in the downshifting transition is associated with having the support of a spouse or relationship partner, and taking a longer time to prepare for the transition before leaving the previous occupational role. Gender differences found included a greater proportion of women seeking professional help with their transition, and a greater proportion of men moving towards self-employment. Several general midlife issues were implicated to a greater or lesser extent in the narratives of career downshifters interviewed. These issues included a re-evaluation of work and life priorities, apprehension of time left to live, confrontation of opposite tendencies within oneself, greater introspection or reflectiveness, and a revision of personal identity. The main contributions ofthis study include: (a) a systematic account of a phenomenon which may be more common in the future, given current social indicators; (b) a map of the career downshifting experience to assist potential career downshifters, as well as those in the helping professions; and (c) identifying transition processes that have not been articulated in existing models of career change and general life transition.