‘It seems at the moment my career is dependent on factors outside of my control’: reflections on graduates’ experiences of employment and career enactment in an era of economic uncertainty and austerity

Abstract

This paper explores contested notions of the purpose of education and careers work. The research for the paper examines public sector employee reactions to notion of a psychological contract breach, when cuts in funding put their jobs and careers at risk. It argues that, in this environment, the search for career fulfilment can be marked by feelings of cruel optimism, wicked problems and broken expectations. The findings are then used to present the case for further research, firstly, to address the notion of possible selves, as individuals explore alternative identity affirming career opportunities; and secondly, the impact of changes in public policy on the processes of psychological contracting between students and staff in further and higher education.

Economic Pressure and Self-Efficacy as Independent Predictors of Academic Grades and Career Indecision for Southern European Middle School Students: A Confirming Study

“…At the end of grade program, the beneficial psychological effects of learning are evident and positive. Unfortunately, on the other hand, Leach (2017) found:…”

“…In this regard, Citarella (2018) offered an interesting contribute to stimulate research in this direction overall considering the psychological connection between uncertainty and discouragement that past and future economic crisis could has produced in many European youths. To show this, can be useful conclude our work taking a look to findings of Leach's (2017) qualitative study which suggest interesting reflections on the uncertainty of young people career perspectives in times of economic crisis. Youths interviewed are young public workers which can be imagined as positive and confident in own capacity, in fact "their career narratives reflect the wider, international discourse concerning vocational learning and graduate employability" (p. 4).…”

Scholar’s Online Organizational Engagement and its Consequences for Higher Education Sustainability

“…The expectations of the members of an organization may change over time, as well as a result of their jobposition changes, the new roles played, the conditions of the organization and its exterior, and the cultural context itself (Cunha et al, 2007;Eichler et al, 2019;Guerrero, 2005;Krause & Moore, 2017;Leach, 2016;Rios & Gondim, 2010;Tipples et al, 2007;Whitchurch & Gordon, 2013;Zagenczyk et al, 2012). These changes may occur at the level of the worker, whose expectations about what to expect from the job and the organization change over time.…”

The role of imagination in emergent career agency

“…There is currently increasing criticism regarding this individualist (or voluntaristic) viewpoint and approach and the limited space or scope that many actually have in determining their own fate is now being emphasized in the literature (Sultana, 2014;Reid, 2016;Leach, 2017). The discourse that is developing in opposition to this individualist approach is the deterministic viewpoint that people are either merely pawns, or at the very least completely dependent on the psychosocial and cultural-economic powers that be in societal and organizational contexts.…”