Exposing the symbolic capital of international assignments

N. Doherty, M. Dickmann
2009 International Journal of Human Resource Management  
This paper explores the symbolic capital attributed to international assignments. The concept of symbolic capital has been proposed as pivotal in the development and utility of career capital. Although the use of international assignments (IAs) remains a key strategy for global organisations and has been posed as a career advantage for individuals, there is a lack of research which attempts to explore the accumulation and utilization of the capital acquired from such experiences. This paper
more » ... ributes to the current debate on international careers by examining the symbolic capital of international assignments as a key element in international careers. Data from a case study within the financial services sector are used to explore some of the recently highlighted challenges of implementing and experiencing international assignment programmes. Areas for further exploration are proposed.
doi:10.1080/09585190802670664 fatcat:htv326xygfahvponaf6vde5q7m