Final answer:
Individuals actively pursue a career path based on personal interests and abilities during Stage 4: Self-Creation of Gottfredson's theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Gottfredson's Circumscription, Compromise, and Self-Creation theory, an individual actively pursues a career path based on personal interests and abilities during Stage 4: Self-Creation. This stage is marked by a mature developmental period where individuals have already gone through the process of eliminating unacceptable career choices due to their self-imposed limitations (stage 1) and societal expectations (stage 2), and have made realistic compromises between their aspirations and what they perceive as attainable (stage 3). The focus in Self-Creation is on refining choices and 'creating' a career that aligns closely with personal goals, interests, and competencies.