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Managing Self-management: Successful Transitions to Portfolio Careers

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Gold

    (Royal Holloway, UK m.gold@rhul.ac.uk)

  • Janet Fraser

    (University of Westminster, UK)

Abstract

Various economic and social pressures have, arguably, combined to effect a shift in both the reality and perceptions of career structures. Recent debates have centred on the extent to which traditional organizational careers have given way to self-employment for a client portfolio. This article builds on distinctions between `subjective', `objective' and `organizational' careers to analyse how individuals manage the transition from a traditional to a portfolio-based career. It focuses on freelance translators, a group of workers with a long history of working outside organizations, and draws out some of the factors involved in their successful transition from employment to self-employment. It evaluates the constraints on creating portfolio careers, particularly the role of safety nets and professional networks, and explores the `organizing principles' to which translators refer in creating coherent narratives of their working lives. The article concludes that, in the absence of an organizational structure, clear identification of such principles proves to be critical for translators in defining both successful transitions and successful careers.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Gold & Janet Fraser, 2002. "Managing Self-management: Successful Transitions to Portfolio Careers," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 16(4), pages 579-597, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:16:y:2002:i:4:p:579-597
    DOI: 10.1177/095001702321587370
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hugh Gunz, 1989. "The Dual Meaning of Managerial Careers: Organizational and Individual Levels of Analysis," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 225-250, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Henninger, Annette & Papouschek, Ulrike, 2005. "Entgrenzung als allgemeinerer Trend? Mobile Pflege und Arbeit in der Medien- und Kulturindustrie im Vergleich," Working papers of the ZeS 05/2005, University of Bremen, Centre for Social Policy Research (ZeS).

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