(Ellig, 1998), mentoring and 360 feedback
processes (Kanter, 1989) and assessment/
development centres (Sullivan et al., 1998).
Some individual employability behaviours:
intrapersonal and interpersonal strategies
The general prescription is that individuals
should be planning their future careers when
things are going well rather than when
things are on a downward curve. Arnold
(1997) and Hirsch (1987) are advocates of the
view that individuals should collect a
portfolio of skills and experiences that are
attractive in the marketplace. Feldman (1996)
amongst others talks about ``parachute
packaging'' and they identify a number of
specific strategies. These employability
strategies may be intra and interpersonal in
nature. Intrapersonal strategies focus on
competence enhancement, continuous
learning and portfolio development and
performance. Interpersonal strategies focus
on enhancing image and include selfnomination/
presentation and network
behaviours.
Intrapersonal strategies
Competency
The acquisition of generic competencies is
given particular emphasis. Their acquisition
is viewed as a necessary but insufficient
condition to attaining career goals.
Greenhaus and Callanan (1994) warn
however that for the employee to ignore
performance issues in pursuit of
competencies may be unsure. Feldman (1996)
makes the argument that the acquisition of
competencies enhances individual
employability. A number of commentators
advocate that competency enhancement can
be achieved through the employee actively
seeking to move into other areas within the
organisation. Bird (1996) is of the view that
organisations should facilitate this
movement. Miles and Snow (1996) label firms
that do provide such opportunities as
``network firms''. These firms focus on
providing employees with a full set of
competencies and experiences, which should
be utilised. Feldman (1996) predicts that an
outcome of such behaviour is that
individuals increase their marketability in
the external labour market and they can be
more readily redeployed if layoffs accrue.
De Fillippi and Arthur (1996, p. 16) argue
that due to the fast pace of change the
productive life of many competencies is
rapidly declining. They place onus on
employees to be concerned with their future
employability by ``evaluating the market
potential of their current competencies and
by investing in new competencies that are