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"I could become a stewardess": Perceived benefits and shortcomings of being university graduates in the Romanian labor market

Authors: Isirabahenda, Gonzague;

"I could become a stewardess": Perceived benefits and shortcomings of being university graduates in the Romanian labor market

Abstract

In recent decades, Romania has expanded its business service sector rapidly. With the rise of outsourced jobs, young university graduates are hired in positions that are not aligned with their educational backgrounds, abilities, and experiences. Given a socio-constructivist paradigm, this study examined how participants perceived the importance and value of higher education, mainly among overeducated graduates working as customer support representatives (CSRs). Drawing from two years of ethnographicalcase study data analyzed thematically, the findings reveal the private and social benefits attributed to being university graduates. However, the results also show a contrasting unfolding scenario characterised by how CSRs increasingly lose their enthusiasm and motivation to remain productive at work. Some CSRs regret, perceive alternative better options after a brief professional course, and a growing trend of unstable careers, thus diminishing the value of higher education. We conclude by revealing theweak link between the labor market and higher education, which aggravates employers' doubts about graduate employability.

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Keywords

Romania, [SHS] Humanities and Social Sciences, Employability, customer support representatives, higher education, value, Romania, Employability, Higher Education, Customer Support Representatives, Value

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green