Towards Understanding Employability Using Images: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

This paper examines employability in the context of conceptual and political issues surrounding it. Drawing on self determination theory (SDT), we conceptualize that self and understanding of what the self intrinsically values may have a significant impact on securing employment and sustaining it. This can be best captured through both linguistic forms of self expression like words and languages as well as non linguistic forms like images. Both narratives and images transcend the constraints imposed by discursive practices in alien languages (English, other Indian Languages). However, images and descriptions of self-images give more information teleologically. Since the idea of possibility is inherent in the concept of “employ-ability” images and projection of possible selves is immediate through images. While research has looked at possible selves in the lives of youth, they have not done using images as a tool. In this exploratory study, four colleges were purposively chosen and depending on the feasibility, students selected themselves. To arrest the triggering of stereotypes, the workshop mode was used and the students were given sufficient time to work through a simple task. One hundred forty-three students studying in 2nd and 3rd year of city arts and science colleges were given the task to identify 3 pictures/images that best represent their self. For cross-validation, they were also asked to write a few lines to explain why/in what personal manner, the image represents the word. The words that emerged from the students as descriptions of the images represented the core values of the student/s. The images and the explanations were content analyzed. The themes that emerge are described. The effect of gender is not controlled as this is an exploratory study. We feel that the effect of culture are accentuated in this study and therefore need not be controlled. Although a cross cultural comparison was not done, it certainly could be taken as further area of research. The paper describes the themes and proposes that certain themes may be useful in understanding employability. The limitation of the study and the implications are discussed.