Projects per year
Abstract
Purpose: This article explores the nature and role of career boundaries for enabling/constraining career self-management for occupational boundary-crossing in the UK graduate labour market.
Methodology: The data is provided by career history interviews with 36 UK graduates. The analysis contrasts transitions for those who started careers in low- intermediate- and high-skilled segments of the labour market.
Findings: Availability of development and progression opportunities were the most prominent career boundary experienced. Ease of boundary-crossing differed by career stage and educational background. Boundaries enabled career self-management by acting as psychological/external push factors, but push factors only aided progression to high-skilled segments for a third of graduates who started careers in underemployment. For the rest, an adaptation of expectations to labour market realities was observed.
Research limitations/implications: Although career history interviews limit generalisability, they contextualise boundaries and deepen understanding of career actors’ subjective experiences and responses.
Practical implications: The study highlights the role of labour market and demand-side constraints for career transitions as well as proactive career behaviours. This has implications for career counsellors, employers and individuals.
Originality/value: This article provides a distinctive ‘boundary-focused’ analysis of emerging career boundaries in the graduate labour market. The findings point to the intricate interplay between structure and agency for career development.
Methodology: The data is provided by career history interviews with 36 UK graduates. The analysis contrasts transitions for those who started careers in low- intermediate- and high-skilled segments of the labour market.
Findings: Availability of development and progression opportunities were the most prominent career boundary experienced. Ease of boundary-crossing differed by career stage and educational background. Boundaries enabled career self-management by acting as psychological/external push factors, but push factors only aided progression to high-skilled segments for a third of graduates who started careers in underemployment. For the rest, an adaptation of expectations to labour market realities was observed.
Research limitations/implications: Although career history interviews limit generalisability, they contextualise boundaries and deepen understanding of career actors’ subjective experiences and responses.
Practical implications: The study highlights the role of labour market and demand-side constraints for career transitions as well as proactive career behaviours. This has implications for career counsellors, employers and individuals.
Originality/value: This article provides a distinctive ‘boundary-focused’ analysis of emerging career boundaries in the graduate labour market. The findings point to the intricate interplay between structure and agency for career development.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Career Development International |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 6 |
Early online date | 23 Sept 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- career management
- labour market conditions
- graduates
- career boundaries
- career self-management
- career mobility
- underemployment
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Projects
- 1 Finished
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University-to-work transitions: the role of career self-management in graduate employability and employment success
Okay-Somerville, B. (Principal Investigator) & Scholarios, D. (Co-investigator)
1/09/14 → 31/08/16
Project: Research
Activities
- 1 Organiser of special symposia
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EAWOP Impact Incubator/ESRC Festival of Social Science seminar
Okay-Somerville, B. (Organiser), Searle, R. (Organiser) & Scholarios, D. (Organiser)
26 Nov 2021Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organiser of special symposia