vocational

Career Anchors

Also known as: COI · Career Orientations Inventory · Schein career anchors

Career anchors are the core values, motives, and competencies that a person would not give up if forced to make a career choice. Eight anchors identified: Technical/Functional Competence, General Management, Autonomy/Independence, Security/Stability, Entrepreneurial Creativity, Service/Dedication, Pure Challenge, and Lifestyle.

Source:: Schein, E. H. (1990). Career anchors and job/role planning. MIT Sloan School of Management. Expanded in Schein, E. H. (2006). Career Anchors (3rd ed.). Pfeiffer.

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Instruments

Career Anchors ProfileNOESIS (inspired by Schein, E. H.)2026

Tests built on this theory

Career Anchors Profile

Forty items mapping eight career anchors — the values you would not sacrifice.

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