We examine how individuals in a collectivistic culture enact coping strategies to deal with career shocks and provides empirical support for the conceptual link between career shock and protean career. Leveraging career construction theory (CCT), we propose a model that elucidates the sequential processes linking career shock to protean career in a collectivistic cultural context. Specifically, we argue that positive career shocks catalyse career reappraisal, which subsequently enhances career adaptability resources—confidence and concern—fostering a protean career orientation over time. Conversely, negative career shocks exert an opposing mediation effect, undermining career adaptability and the development of a protean career attitude. Using data from two cross-sectional studies, we provide empirical support for these pathways. Study 1 is based on data from 472 alumni of a leading Indian management institution, whereas study 2 relies on the data collected from 554 knowledge workers across job profiles and industries. Our findings affirm that only positive career shock acts as an antecedent to protean career orientation in a collectivistic society. We also use comprehensive CFA marker and instrumental variable techniques to bolster our findings. This study advances the career shock literature by offering a comprehensive framework that underscores the connection between self-managed career and career shocks in collectivistic settings.
