Entering the occupation: the case of law and management graduates
- Autores: Isabel Guimarães
- Localización: Mundos sociais: saberes e prácticas, 2008, ISBN 978-972-95945-4-0, pág. 240
- Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
This paper examines search strategies of law and management graduates and employers selection practices. It examines whether universities and social networks enhance graduates outcomes at entrylevel positions. It draws on research conducted in 2005 involving graduates from three universities in Porto, in addition to business organisations and law firms. Interviews with graduates revealed different strategies to enter the occupation. Interviews with employers and senior lawyers in a range of organisations indicate that the widespread use of the university as a main selection criterion goes along with market closure practices. Prospective lawyers depend mostly upon contacts to find the mandatory internship, however, when applying to important law firms the university and grades dominate. Among management graduates, the university plays a key role in shaping access to the labour market. Management graduates seem prone to apply to large national or multinational companies, which favours organizations stringent selection strategies. At entry-level positions, the university seems to influence pay levels, work satisfaction in addition to career expectations. Increased participation in higher education has led to changes in occupations, but the outcomes of a university degree vary according to the university. In some cases, entering an occupation may represent a chain of precarious work experiences.
