Abstract: The construct of Career decision-making difficulties was defined as the problems individuals would encounter in making their career decision. Career decision-making difficulties could affect the individual’s decision outcome in one of two possible ways: a) preventing the individual from making a decision; or b) leading to a less optimal decision. Career decision-making difficulties have been one of central research topics in career psychology. In present study, we reviewed the studies on career decision-making difficulties published during the period of 1980-2012, and presented the findings and issues in concept, typology, measurement, antecedents and intervention. Further, we suggested the directions for the future studies in this field: a) clearly defining the connotation and extension; b) reaching a consensus on the dimension; c) penetrating the mechanism; and d) strengthening the research on tailoring intervention of career decision-making difficulties.

Key words: career decision-making difficulties, typology, measurement.