A sustainable career for interim managers: the role of career communities

Purpose: This study examines how the collective construction of career sustainability takes place through a career community of interim managers. Design/methodology/approach: We draw on 31 interviews with interim managers who are part of a career community in the form of a professional association of interim managers in France. Findings: The findings show the importance of career communities as a vehicle through which to create a sustainable career. More specifically, we show that occupational career communities provide mutual and reciprocal career support, collective being and belonging through sense-making as well as collective learning leading to the collective creation of a sustainable career. Originality/value: We add to the literature on sustainable careers by providing a collective community-level analysis and make a theoretical contribution by using the concept of career communities in shedding light on the career sustainability of interim managers. In the light of the increase in non-standard forms of employment, career communities might become an interesting vehicle for career management and development. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited