Abstract
This research focuses on the transition from managerial to entrepreneurial roles in the current Italian setting and aims to explore the individual and contextual conditions that foster this transition. The demographic structure of European countries has changed irreversibly in the past twenty years due to an ageing population. Moreover, financial crises coupled with globalisation have brought about a dramatic change in industries and related labour organisation models. Alongside this phenomenon, the rigidity in the Italian labour market is leading to a persistently high level of structural unemployment and a search for quantitative flexibility in managing staff. A recent law passed by the Italian Parliament (Jobs Act, 2014) aims to resolve the situation. Thus the skills required to adapt to new jobs is worthy of analysis by scholars. The results of this research show that Italian managers who have made a successful transition towards becoming entrepreneurs show a self-directed and value-driven approach to careers (protean attitude) in addition to a propensity to improvement of their skills and orientation to change (adaptability). These characteristics have been fostered by the work context present in their previous job experiences, in particular the managerial and HRM practices experienced by entrepreneurs when they were employed. The results of this study are promising in the light of the recent labour market reforms (Jobs Act) in Italy. By focusing on the career transition from manager to entrepreneur the concept of career can be considered in an innovative way, particularly with regard to career opportunities for young generations.