Global self‐initiated corporate expatriate careers: a new era in international assignments?

Altman, Yochanan and Baruch, Yehuda (2012) Global self‐initiated corporate expatriate careers: a new era in international assignments? Personnel Review, 41 (2), 233-255. (doi:10.1108/00483481211200051).

Abstract

Purpose: within the current discourse on contemporary careers and the context of international assignments, this paper seeks to conduct a study of a large European MNC, with the aim of theory development on expatriation/repatriation.

Design/methodology/approach: a qualitative study, based on semi‐structured interviews in a major financial institution.

Findings: motivation to expatriate falls into two distinct categories – company initiated assignments; and self‐initiated, career orientated and/or self‐development focused. The authors propose a two dimensional model to depict the emergence of a new expatriation path alongside the traditional one – differentiating those who respond to an international assignment call within a clearly framed career development path; and those embarking on international assignment as, primarily, a personal growth opportunity. A distinctive sub‐group of corporate self‐initiated expatriates is identified for the first time.

Research limitations/implications: a qualitative study within one company.

Practical implications: the emergent models could be utilized by HR managers to shape future policies and practices for global assignments.

Originality/value: providing a new model to explicate the relevance of a protean career attitude in a global boundaryless career environment; outlining of new emergent international career trajectories, in particular corporate self‐initiated careers.

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Contributors

Author: Yehuda Baruch

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