I read the OP slightly differently. I think there's an expectation that science is about a pure-ish pursuit of knowledge. In that context, careerism works against the philosophy and goals of the effort. In growing commerce/industry, the expectations might look different (competition, plus ingenuity or high EQ, or both). In large companies (Google, MS, Ford, JPM) and government, expectations collect around careerism, managing perceptions, and stability/predictability.

working as a freelancer or for small companies.