How multi-optional experts maintain and enhance their employability

Abstract

How do freelancers and workers with frequently changing employment relationships top up their know-how and make themselves more employable? Highly skilled experts with multiple employment options must stay ahead of the game as they move from one job to market themselves for the next one. This article analyses how multi-optional experts improve their employability. It is based on a qualitative study of 17 multi-optional experts in knowledge-intensive industries such as information technology (IT), the media and consultancy as flexible employment is increasing and employability is critical in these highly dynamic fields. The study shows that multi-optional experts maintain and enhance their employability with various, mainly informal and self-organised learning methods. It identifies four types of worker – Flexible Adapter, Flexible Independent, Permalancer and Independent Freelancer – whose vocational development includes reactive, organisation-focused, active and self-focused strategies. In order to contribute to a better understanding of multi-optional experts’ employability this article focuses on their strategies, particularly on how they select and combine learning methods, and examines their motives to enhance their further development.