In today's work environment, self or personal competence relates mainly to individuals' active participation in their own development. Taking into consideration aspects of lifelong learning, strategies of active and self-regulated resource allocation at different stages in life constitute one of the central preconditions for successfully meeting the challenges of today's labour markets. The SOC model from "lifespan psychology" provides a basis for conceptualising individuals' intentional vocational career development from entering VET until late adulthood.This book presents the theoretical foundations and practical implications for applying the theory of "Selective Optimisation with Compensation" for the purpose of an international large-scale assessment of competencies in the domain of work. It elaborates individual strategies for adaptive life management, focusing on the pursuit of career-related goals in young adulthood. It contributes towards enriching existing international surveys by providing a theoretical framework that accounts for adaptive developmental changes of competencies thorough the lifespan.
