Young and/but successful

Business graduates performing themselves as valuable labouring subjects

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12601469
AutoresMinna Korhonen (0000-0002-0075-4393, University of Eastern Finland, autor correspondente), Päivi Siivonen (0000-0003-1634-5188, University of Turku), Ulpukka Isopahkala-Bouret (0000-0002-8535-8874, University of Turku), Heli Mutanen (0000-0001-9003-0905, University of Eastern Finland), Katri Komulainen (0000-0001-9337-5052, University of Eastern Finland)
Ano2023
Volume27
Fascículo5
Páginas668-684
Data de publicação2023-01-04
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Youth Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1367-6261 • E-ISSN: 1469-9680
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13676261.2022.2161355
OpenAlexW4313592129
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas39

This article advances critical theoretical and methodological approaches to employability. From the perspectives of neoliberal governmentality and positioning analysis, we investigate graduate employability as a process of creating value for the self in the labour markets. The study analyses how young Finnish business graduates (n = 19) who work in business organisations perform themselves as valuable labouring subjects in their interviews. Based on our analysis, we develop an argument that being a young business professional is simultaneously presented as a problem and a virtue in terms of a valuable labouring subject. The analysis shows that graduates cultivate themselves as easily employable, mature job seekers and successful young employees equipped with personal social skills, enthusiasm and youthful energy and drive. They draw on the neoliberal discourse of employability to negotiate issues identified as problematic – their young age and lack of work experience – in terms of their value. Their performances of the self are thus purposeful responses to the contextual expectations and pressures they encounter while competing for jobs and striving to gain recognition as novice professionals in organisations. The study reveals that graduates’ whole subjectivity is at the core of the process of value creation in contemporary labour markets

Argument (complex analysis · Economic growth · Economics · Employability · Enthusiasm · Epistemology · Governmentality · Negotiation · Pedagogy · Political science · Public relations · Seekers · Social science · Sociology · Subjectivity · Value (mathematics · Workforce · Young professional · Higher Education and Employability · Higher Education Practises and Engagement · Psychology · Social Psychology · Youth Education and Societal Dynamics