A dialectical conception of career development focuses on self and environmental interactions involving four dimensions: physical, physiological, psychological, sociological, and economic. When indivdiuals perceive the relationships among experiences in these dimensions as synchronous (complementary), they experience relative stability in their work and job satisfaction. When the relationships are perceived as asynchronous (contradictory), individuals encounter cognitive or behavioral discontinuity and job dissatisfaction. Discontinuity may intensify into conflict (moderate level of discomfort) or crisis (high level of discomfort). Compromising eliminates or reduces the original discontinuity. The continuing resolution of conflicts and crises leads to growth. Interviews with fourteen adult respondants were structured to give data relevant to certain content objectives: (1) educational-vocational background, (2) factors influencing current occupational choice, (3) self and environmental parameters of current job, (4) sources of job satisfaction/dissatisfaction, and (5) resolution of discontinuities. Four respondants identified no personally significant discontinuity, seven identified one discontinuity with no conflict or crisis, and three identified one or more discontinuities and revealed some aspects of conflict. Findings challenge the universality of the outlined dialectical process, suggest a broader conception of conflict, and hint at discontinuities generating varying degrees of conflict. (Results are also represented in tables and figures.) (YLB)