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Career patterns of young highly skilled migrants from Southeast Europe in Austria

Career patterns of young highly skilled migrants from Southeast Europe in Austria PurposeUsing a Bourdieuian perspective, the purpose of this paper is to analyse how highly skilled migrants (HSMs) from transition economies develop their careers by accumulating and using career capital upon migration.Design/methodology/approachAn interpretative approach was chosen to depict the career patterns of 18 HSMs from Southeast Europe. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data about their career experiences in Western Europe and their home countries.FindingsFindings reveal four different career patterns that show how individuals develop their careers and adjust to the work environment by accumulating and using career capital. Building up country-specific work-related social contacts and gaining work experience in local companies were found to represent key elements in their adjustment process. Additionally, the findings show that organisational support facilitates the processes of individual adjustment.Originality/valueThis paper emphasises that individuals do not always have to assimilate to the work environment of the host country but can also bargain over the value of their career capital in their adjustment process. Contrasting with previous literature this perspective presents a novelty. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Personnel Review Emerald Publishing

Career patterns of young highly skilled migrants from Southeast Europe in Austria

Winterheller, Julian; Hirt, Christian
Personnel Review , Volume 46 (2): 15 – Mar 6, 2017
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15 pages

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Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
0048-3486
DOI
10.1108/PR-05-2015-0148
Publisher site
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Abstract

PurposeUsing a Bourdieuian perspective, the purpose of this paper is to analyse how highly skilled migrants (HSMs) from transition economies develop their careers by accumulating and using career capital upon migration.Design/methodology/approachAn interpretative approach was chosen to depict the career patterns of 18 HSMs from Southeast Europe. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data about their career experiences in Western Europe and their home countries.FindingsFindings reveal four different career patterns that show how individuals develop their careers and adjust to the work environment by accumulating and using career capital. Building up country-specific work-related social contacts and gaining work experience in local companies were found to represent key elements in their adjustment process. Additionally, the findings show that organisational support facilitates the processes of individual adjustment.Originality/valueThis paper emphasises that individuals do not always have to assimilate to the work environment of the host country but can also bargain over the value of their career capital in their adjustment process. Contrasting with previous literature this perspective presents a novelty.

Journal

Personnel Review – Emerald Publishing

Published: Mar 6, 2017

References

  • Modes of engagement: migration, self-initiated expatriation, and career development
  • Understanding self-initiated expatriates: career experiences of Lebanese self-initiated expatriates in France
  • Capital mobilization of skilled migrants: a relational perspective
  • Careers of skilled migrants: towards a theoretical and methodological expansion
  • Occupation-education mismatch of immigrant workers in Europe: context and policies