Stretchwork: Managing the Career Progression Paradox in External Labor Markets
通过比较田野研究，考察合同工如何在缺乏组织指导的情况下，利用“拉伸工作”策略（从已有能力延伸到新能力）来应对职业晋升悖论（无经验难找工作），并识别了四种获取拉伸工作的策略及其成功条件。
Changes in employment relationships have diminished the degree to which internal labor markets shape careers. Using comparative field studies, we examine how contract workers try to achieve career progression without the benefit of organizational guidance. Specifically, we examine how contract workers manage the career progression paradox: the problem of finding a job without prior experience. “Stretchwork” bridging from proven competencies to new ones helps reconcile this paradox. We identify four tactics used to acquire stretchwork, explore the conditions affecting the success of those tactics, and offer theoretical implications for career progression in external labor markets.