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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Mairi Maclean, Professor Charles Harvey, Professor Stewart Clegg
This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Cambridge University Press, 2017.
For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Increasing global mobility has prompted a record number of talented individuals to relocate to other countries on their own initiative to pursue a career. Despite growing interest in the careers of self-initiated expatriate (SIEs), we know little about their experiences in accessing professional occupations. Drawingon the discursive practice turn in social theory, we examine the career journeys of skilled West African SIEs based in the UK. We unpack specific transient moments of their journeys through the lens of ‘microstoria’: the creation and sharing of contemporaneous storylines. These reveal a high degree of agency on the part of SIEs, whose ‘way-finding’ practices are characterized byfour distinct, but durationally indivisible transitional phases (which we call ‘Johnny just come’, toe-holding, enrichment-in-practice, and the puissance-lap). Our study provides insight into the subjective career experiences of SIEs, their resourcefulness and perseverance, as they encounter everyday challenges while striving to forge a professional career.
Author(s): Maclean M, Harvey C, Clegg S
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Business History Review
Year: 2017
Volume: 91
Issue: 3
Pages: 457-481
Print publication date: 11/10/2017
Online publication date: 15/08/2017
Acceptance date: 23/01/2017
Date deposited: 25/01/2017
ISSN (print): 0007-6805
ISSN (electronic): 2044-768X
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007680517001027
DOI: 10.1017/S0007680517001027
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