*Apologies for cross posting*
2026 Careers Division Scholarly Program: Call for Submissions
The Careers Division (CAR) seeks scholarly submissions of papers, symposia and posters for AOM 2026, the 86th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, to be held in person 31 July through 4 August 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/USA.
Scholarly sessions (paper sessions and symposia) will take place Sunday, 2 August through Tuesday, 4 August 2026. Poster sessions will take place Friday, 31 July through Tuesday, 4 August 2026.
Mission Statement
The Careers Division fosters the general advancement of research, learning, teaching, and practice in the field of careers, while encouraging the extension and unification of knowledge pertaining to careers, and thereby enhancing the practice of management.
Careers Domain
Research in the field of careers addresses people's lifelong succession of work experiences, the structure of opportunity to work, and the relationship between careers and other aspects of life. Submissions for the conference may reflect any topic that fits within the careers domain and extends our understanding of careers. The Careers Division is open to qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method approaches as well as conceptual and theoretical submissions. Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Individual career development, career management strategies, proactive behaviors, and career planning
- All manner of objective and subjective career success outcomes from pay to satisfaction, performance to stress, and employability to career sustainability
- Workforce diversity and inclusion as well as race, culture, and gender effects in and on careers
- Organizational career management systems and approaches as well as the relationships between HR systems, talent management practices and careers
- Developmental relationships and networks, as well as mentoring, coaching and counseling
- Cross-cultural, international, and comparative careers as well as expatriate experiences
- Effects of societal, national, industrial, organizational, occupational, technological and social context on careers
- Career disruptions, shocks such as COVID-19 but others also, transitions and plateauing
- Labor market structures, functions, and mobility
- Careers of specific groups, such as top management teams, mothers, entrepreneurs, migrants, flex workers, gigsters, remotes, first responders, healthcare workers and beyond
2026 Conference: Back in North America
While last year's AOM annual meeting took place in Europe for the first time, it will return to North America for 2026 – that is, to Philadelphia. The large, bustling city which is known as the 'Birthplace of America' will welcome management and organization academics, students and practitioners from all over the world to expand their professional networks, gain new perspectives, and engage with the latest advancements in their fields.
Like last year's conference, there will be no conference theme. We therefore encourage submitters to think about submissions that they feel represent their interests, that are timely and/or important topics and that advance the division's goals.
Submission Guidelines
The CAR scholarly program will include both papers and symposia, and - following on from the AOM in Copenhagen - there will also be the option of a poster submission (more information provided below). Details of the requirements for each session type (paper vs symposium) are outlined on the Submission Process page. Please also keep in mind that symposia (including panel discussions) have a higher chance of acceptance when they indicate potential co-sponsorship by other relevant divisions.
Please note that all papers should be submitted using the AOM Submission Center. The Submission Center opens early December 2025 and closes Tuesday, 13 January 2026 at 17:00 ET (UTC-5/GMT-5). Earlier submissions are encouraged and any submissions after the deadline will not be processed, so please ensure a timely submission. Also, note that there is limited space on the scholarly program and, consequently, not all submissions can be accepted.
New Opportunities for this Year:
The 2026 AOM comes with new opportunities including 1.) On-Demand Sessions; 2.) Poster Sessions; and 3.) Teaching Oriented Submissions:
- On-Demand Sessions (Pre-Recorded Presentations): To ensure that all scholars have the opportunity to share their work, contribute to discussions, and engage with the community, a new On-Demand session option is introduced. This option allows accepted presenters who are unable to attend in person to prerecord their presentation and share it with others through a secure online platform. These recordings can be viewed by attendees before, during, and after the Annual Meeting.
- Poster Sessions: Following on from last year's success, poster sessions will once again be a submission type for 2026. Sessions will be scheduled in highly visible areas across all four contracted spaces at the Annual Meeting. New this year: "Poster Showcase Area." A designated area in the Exhibit Hall where conference posters will remain on display after their scheduled presentation sessions. This space will allow attendees to continue exploring research findings, engage with authors asynchronously, and review materials at their own pace throughout the event. This initiative will provide a great opportunity for cross-DIG networking.
- Teaching Oriented Submissions: Building on TLC@AOM's legacy, AOM will pilot a new model in 2026 that highlights practical teaching innovations and supports educators across all roles. Submitters should select the "Teaching" orientation for proposals.
Being a Reviewer for Our Division
Please consider reviewing for CAR and you might win a Best Reviewer award. Regardless of your career phase, AOM provides excellent support for reviewing and we welcome your involvement whether you are a new or long-standing Annual Meeting attendee. Without our reviewers, we cannot create a great program. In other words: We need YOU - because to have enough reviews, we count on your help as reviewers!! Thank you very much in advance. You can get reviewing guidelines to help you along the way.
So, please sign up NOW to review for the Careers Division. The actual review period is from mid-January until mid-February 2026.
Careers Division Awards
The Careers Division offers several awards for the Annual Meeting, including the Best Overall Paper Award, Michael Driver Best Symposium Award, and the Arnon Reichers Best Student Paper Award. The award winners will be determined by committees of around 3-5 scholars, and the winners will be announced during the AOM 2026 conference.
Questions, Comments?
For questions, comments, and concerns, please email Careers Division Program Chair, Janine Bosak, at Janine.bosak@dcu.ie
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Janine Bosak
Professor
Dublin City University
Dublin
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