Flourish or Wither? Career Trajectories of Midlife Veteran School Counselors in Israel

The purpose of this study was to explore the career trajectories and professional narratives of 15 female veteran school counselors in Israel during midlife. Qualitative in-depth interviews revealed four distinct career profiles: Innovators, Maintainers, Reducers, and Transformers. Innovators engage in continuous job crafting, dynamically shaping their roles to incorporate new professional challenges and knowledge, thereby maintaining high job satisfaction. Maintainers adhere to established work patterns without seeking professional growth. Reducers significantly diminish their involvement, withdrawing from active engagement. Transformers scale back their school counseling roles while thriving in related fields outside the school. The findings illuminate how each group navigates their career trajectories differently amid evolving professional demands and personal midlife experiences. Research findings enhance our understanding of career development among school counselors and raise awareness of the potential contributions and challenges veteran practitioners face. While they highlight the capacity of experienced counselors to contribute intensively to the education system, they also reveal concerning patterns of disengagement and career stagnation. These findings emphasize the necessity of tailored approaches in school counseling that consider individual career development patterns rather than merely years of experience. Policymakers and counseling supervisors are urged to develop strategies to effectively address veteran school counselors’ unique trajectories and needs, preventing career stagnation and ensuring their continued contribution to the educational system.