Career paths: narratives of human resources professionals

Abstract

The idea that the career consists of a linear trajectory structured by the company has been changing to a new reality in which the career is seen as a journey, open to possibilities and uncertainties. Several models have emerged in an attempt to understand this journey, among these, the model of career narrative, which assumes that, while narrating, individuals give meaning to their trajectory. The present study aimed to investigate the career trajectory of human resource professionals working in the Greater Natal. For this purpose, the model of career narrative was used. From the methodological viewpoint, the project was divided in two stages. The first was characterized by conducting a survey through the application of a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and analysis of clusters included 117 participants. The second stage was characterized by the completion of 17 narrative interviews. In reviewing the results, we found that the identification with the activity is a decisive factor for choosing and remaining in the HR field. The lack of recognition appears as the main difficulty faced by professionals. The analysis leads to discussions about the career path in HR and reflections for the category, representative bodies and educational institutions.