adequate employee increases vulnerability to
layoffs''. Those who survive are likely to
increase their working hours and
responsibilities. Newell and Dopson (1996)
found that where employees were committed
in the form of working long hours it
enhanced their career chances. Other
research studies by Organ (1988) and
Greenhaus and Callanan (1994) support the
view that working longer hours
demonstrates commitment to the
organisation and leads to the perception that
the individual is more productive. This
research reveals that individuals should also
exhibit greater levels of citizenship
behaviour. This may involve the individual
taking on extra responsibilities. Those who
volunteer for extra responsibility are more
employable at least within their own
organisations.
Continuous learning and portfolios
Baker and Aldrich (1996) argue that in the
future there will be a reduction in employer
sponsored training. The implication is that
the employer is responsible to provide
additional education and training. Much of
this learning will take place in the work
context itself. Romaniuk and Snart (2000)
suggest that this may require employees to
maintain portfolios documenting learning
and providing evidence of professional and
personal growth. It requires learners to
extract learning from experience and to be
aware of the differences between learning
and experience. Burke and Vankleef (1996)
argue that employability is enhanced where
the individual can reflect holistically on
learning; this has the potential to enhance
adaptability. Smith (1996) suggests that the
portfolio itself represents a comprehensive
reference that may be used as an
employability tool. Table II presents a
summary of the key dimensions of
employability highlighted in the literature.
Interpersonal strategies
Networks and social capital
The requirement to cultivate networks and
gain access to other people's knowledge and
resources is considered an important
element of employability. Raider and Burt
(1996) define ``networks'' or ``special capital''
as the structure of individuals' contact
networks. This means the pattern of
interconnections among the various people
to whom each person is tied. An important
theme of social capital theory is that
differences in networks produce inequality
in respect of career attainment. This
inequality is likely to manifest itself in
performance differences among similarly
educated, able and experienced individuals.
[ 52 ]
Thomas N. Garavan,
Michael Morley,
Patrick Gunnigle and
Eammon Collins
Human capital accumulation:
the role of human resource
development
Journal of European Industrial
Training
25/2/3/4 [2001] 48±68
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