Does it mean I shouldn't set goals?

No—set goals, but stay open to unexpected paths.

Is being undecided bad?

The theory treats it as open-mindedness and a chance to explore.

Planned happenstance theory

📚 Education By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated October 26, 2026

Planned happenstance theory says unexpected events are inevitable in careers, so people should build habits that create and capitalize on lucky breaks.

Contents

1. The core idea
2. Five skills
3. FAQ
4. References

The core idea

John Krumboltz noticed that many successful people's careers hinged on chance encounters and unplanned events. Rather than pressuring people to lock in a goal, he reframed indecision as open-mindedness and urged them to generate and seize opportunities. He later expanded it into happenstance learning theory.

Five skills

Curiosity to explore new learning, persistence despite setbacks, flexibility to change attitudes and circumstances, optimism that new opportunities are possible, and risk-taking when outcomes are uncertain. In practice: join clubs, take internships, volunteer, and network. It contrasts with stage-based career development theory and draws on self-efficacy.

FAQ

Does it mean I shouldn't set goals?: No—set goals, but stay open to unexpected paths.
Is being undecided bad?: The theory treats it as open-mindedness and a chance to explore.

Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26

References

Mitchell, K. E., Levin, A. S., & Krumboltz, J. D. (1999). Planned happenstance: Constructing unexpected career opportunities. Journal of Counseling & Development, 77(2), 115–124.
Krumboltz, J. D. (2009). The happenstance learning theory. Journal of Career Assessment, 17(2), 135–154.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

There are no materials dedicated to this theory yet, but you can search related reports in the CampusDown library (Korean).

Find more reports · Search '계획된 우연 이론' on CampusDown →

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This article was last updated on October 26, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.