Abstract: The classic career development theories have been based primarily on the reductionism paradigms, focusing on structures and processes. The paradigm of career study had a great change after it was combined with the chaos theory. On the basis of the western research, this article analyzed the chaos characteristics of career development from three aspects, including sensitive dependence, fractal and effect of attractor. We pointed out the value of the theory in career counseling and research

Key words: career development, chaos, fractal, attractor