The purpose of this paper is to test the construct validity of the measurement model of Schein's Career Orientation Inventory (1990) where entrepreneurship and creativity constitute two separate constructs. Design A fairly representative sample of 1,847 Israeli working adults completed Schein's Career Anchor Inventory (COI) questionnaire. The data was subjected to confirmatory factor analysis to compare the fit of the proposed nine-construct model to Schein's eight Findings The findings demonstrate that a) the proposed nine-construct model of the COI, which distinguishes between Entrepreneurship and Creativity constructs has a better fit than the eight-construct model. b) The nine-construct model has convergent and discriminant validity and unidimensionality. Value The study's contributions are threefold: first, it generally supports Schein's Career Anchor Theory, yet, with nine anchors rather than with the original eight; second, it confirms the distinction between entrepreneurship and creativity; and third, it highlights the need to rephrase several existing items, and add new ones. The suggested changes and the conceptual framework of the nine-anchor model will make the COI a more valid and reliable instrument, both for theory-building, as well as for practical and diagnostic use by career counselors.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the career anchor concept developed by Edgar Schein.Design/methodology/approachThe paper focuses on the distribution of the eight career anchors, on a large heterogeneous sample and the differences in the distribution by gender and type of employment; and the impact of the congruence on job satisfaction between a person's career anchor and his job setting. The sample consists of 1,847 Israeli men and women who completed Schein's Career Anchor Inventory questionnaire. They also provided biographical data and indicated their level of job satisfaction. A new measure is developed and validated to assess the congruence between a person's career anchor and his job.FindingsThe most prevalent career anchor in the sample is lifestyle with the technical/functional anchor, second. Major differences were found between the self‐employed and salaried workers in four anchors. Significant differences between men and women are found in all but two career anchors: technical/functional and security. Finally, the study supports the hypothesis that congruence between a person's job and his career anchor has a positive impact on his job satisfaction.Originality/valueThe study furthers existing research on career anchors by using a large heterogeneous sample and offering a new measure of “congruence” between a person's job and his career anchor.