Boundaryless careers in a large Brazilian financial institution

Abstract

In recent years, changes in business and work organization led to the emergence of new career models. Among these models, the boundaryless career, which is premised on high professional mobility, has gained prominence. However, there are few empirical studies on this phenomenon in Brazil. The present study seeks to address this gap. The objective of this study is to identify the attitudes of individuals towards their careers in a large Brazilian financial institution. Methodologically, the study uses a mixed design. The quantitative entailed the application of the Boundaryless Career Attitudes Scale, which was previously validated for use in the Portuguese language. The scale was administered to 126 professionals working in seven areas of the above-referenced organization. The qualitative study involved 11 indepth interviews with professionals who are identified using the respondent list from the quantitative portion of the study. The results indicate a strong presence of boundaryless career attitudes within the organization, although there are differences among individuals (which stem from differences in the individuals' tenures at the organization) and differences among areas of the organization. The article seeks to explain the reasons for these differences and to discuss the apparent paradox between an evident boundaryless career attitude and a strong desire for permanence and bonding with the organization. The present study contributes to knowledge in the field of career studies in Brazil because it uses a validated scale of attitudes and reveals the reality of a large local organization.