From Learning to Earning: A qualitative investigation analysing the relevance, presence and possible interactions between the possession, position and process theories through the perspectives of graduates of the IT sector based on their own experience of achieving employment

Gordillo Tepate, Flor de Tila (2018) From Learning to Earning: A qualitative investigation analysing the relevance, presence and possible interactions between the possession, position and process theories through the perspectives of graduates of the IT sector based on their own experience of achieving employment. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

This research paper is a qualitative study analysing the perception that graduates have regarding the achievement of employment based on their own experience who have graduated between one to four years ago. This paper taking into consideration several factors, attempts to set a path as a means to integrate the three main theoretical approaches of graduates’ employability which include Position theory (constructed from socioeconomic inequalities), Possession theory (possession of knowledge and social skills) and Process theory (constructed from career self-management and pre-professional identity). Furthermore, employment is measured through three key aspects, the objective (e.g. employment status, job offer rejection), subjective (internal perception) and quality or fulfilling employment (e.g. application of knowledge, salary, growth opportunities), recognising that as the understanding of employability continues to evolve, then as a direct consequence its measurement cannot be accurate without considering the diverse factors influencing it. The results gathered from this research paper support the great importance of both the process and possession theories making further advancements in this field by possibly discovering an important interaction between both theories, where technical knowledge and soft skills together with proactive actions such as career exploration, guidance, the building of a professional network and development of pre-professional identity can have a major impact on a graduate’s obtainment of fulfilling employment. Academically, this paper notes the overall picture surrounding the concept of employment focusing on the study of graduates’ employability and thus drawing together, from throughout the years, the diverse perspectives in this area, while also drawing from the current key approaches, and considering the implications for the diverse stakeholders involved which include graduate students, academic institutes, government and policy-makers.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Classes of Labour > Graduate Employment H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Specific Industries > I.T. Industry
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Arts in Human Resource Management
Depositing User:	Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited:	25 Oct 2018 17:35
Last Modified:	25 Oct 2018 17:35
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/3335

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