THE INTERRUPTED MANAGERIAL CAREER PATH - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF MBAS

The view of managerial career success as an uninterrupted climb up the corporate ladder no longer fits the realities of many managers. This study examined longitudinal data on the career paths of MBAs to determ ine the consequences of early-and midcareer gaps on career success. Th e study found that early gaps have a negative impact on income and man agement level. Gaps in mid-career also reveal an income penalty, even after controlling for pre-gap income. In mid-career, the negative leve l effect was found for women, but not for men. MBAs with discontinuous employment histories, however, did not have diminished career satisfa ction. The research suggests the need far researchers, organizations, managers, and business schools to broaden the definition of acceptable managerial career paths. (C) 1997 Academic Press.