Turner, M and Holdsworth, S (2023) Developing resilience: Examining the protective factors of early career construction professionals. Construction Management and Economics, 41(10), pp. 805-819. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
Work in construction is highly demanding and stressful. Graduates must navigate these imminent challenges as well as the challenges associated with transition as they enter their new learning environment and seek to establish their professional identity. This research examined how resilience can support the transition of early career construction professionals from university into the workforce. Interviews were conducted with twenty-five participants and data was thematically analyzed. Challenges experienced by participants related to structural and cultural conditions of working in construction as well as the transitional career stage. Internal protective factors of emotional objectivity, reflection, goal setting, and physical and mental health emerged as important in positively responding to workplace adversity. Task-related and emotion-related organizational support were considered as important external protective factors that can facilitate the development of internal protective factors. Yet, formal organizational support was often not provided. Findings can inform the design of work and workplace programs which support this new cohort of workers to adapt to an unfamiliar and demanding work environment, as well as provide guidance to university construction management programs on ways to support the development of internal protective factors of emerging professionals. Furthermore, it is expected that students transitioning from university to work, irrespective of discipline, will progress through the three stages of the liminal experience and its possible that access to protective factors supporting resilience may assist students to positively move through this process.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction; graduate transition; protective factors; resilience; work-ready graduates |
| Index terms: | work environment, career, program, identity, construction professional, reflection, mental health, interview |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, sociology, management, health conditions and diseases, software systems, professional development |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Organizational Design, Information Management, Research Practice, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here