Expatriate assignments and career outcomes: career development of portuguese repatriates

Martins, Dora; Carvalho, Susana; Silva, Susana

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/9176

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Authors

Martins, Dora

Carvalho, Susana

Silva, Susana

Abstract(s)

This paper aims to study the expatriation, specifically the career management of Portuguese repatriates. The purpose of this research is to examine how the expatriate assignments may influence the professional career development upon return. This research was carried out using the quantitative methodology. The data collection was done through the application of a questionnaire to 75 repatriates belonging to organizations located in Portugal. The data collected in this study show that repatriates enhance the expatriation experience, regardless of a career progression or not, because they acquire and develop new skills, achieve a richer and more extensive functional content and assume positions with more responsibility and autonomy. The fact that repatriates plan the international assignment as part of a development career process confirms the theoretical perspectives of the new psychological contract, protean career, boundaryless career and intelligent careers. The results show that the completion of international assignments doesn’t have a direct impact on the repatriates’ career development. These findings will be discussed in detail and implications and suggestions for future research will be proposed as well.