Table 2
Examples of expressions, resulting categories and theme of questions asked, in advice columns in Swedish media between the years 2011–2015.
| Content analysis of questions asked | ||
|---|---|---|
| Examples of expressions | Category | Theme |
| “I work as a middle-leader/…/”I have received positive feedback in terms of “we wouldn’t survive without you”. The managers want me to work more and take more responsibility for parts that my boss is incapable of. I have the capacity but I am fed up with the situation. I approved, but also mentioned I wanted to discuss my salary. My HR-manager advised me not to speak about salary. I already work beyond my area of responsibilities. It is not motivating taking more responsibility without increased salary” (F0412Q) | Need for recognition | Changed rules, experiences of uncertainty and injustice |
| “Would like to develop myself further in the company but the silent rule says that possibilities for advancement only exist if you have been included in the company’s pool of talent. Realize the chances to be included decrease as time goes by. Have always been ambitious but never felt recognized by my nearest boss. Feel I am losing my spark…” (E0302Q) | How to advance? | |
| “How do you get an entry job? I have never had a real job. Have a background as a student, a newspaper distributor, telemarketer and dishwasher. Three years ago I started studying again/…/I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree from one of Sweden’s highest-ranked universities. Have searched for jobs without result. Wonder if I am too old, or am I being judged by previous employments?/…/How do I get that experience employers demand for? Am I facing more difficulties because of my foreign name?” (E1026Q) | How to understand the labor market? | |
| “I am controlled and monitored in every single detail. The boss is lecturing me in front of others. In the next second, he tells me to continue to think new”. (D1103Q) “I have been tested by a psychologist for a potential new job in another firm./…/The meeting with the psychologist was not good, he interpreted my profile in a way I don’t feel familiar with./…I have met the person responsible for the recruitment several times, and these meetings have felt good./…/I am worried the test will have too much influence on the decision” (E0608Q). | Experiences of injustice and of being controlled | |
| “I have been offered and said yes to my dream job – a managerial job/…/I have received attention for my new role, and everybody congratulates me. When I got this opportunity, I spoke with my husband who said it is my decision. However, he also noted that you never know if a similar opportunity will come. And if I say no, they might be thinking I am not interested in further development. However, when I had a first meeting with my staff, I felt this is the wrong job for me. I got a stomach ache and realized that I’m not feeling well in this new managerial role” (D1020Q) | Uncertainty in current/forthcoming role | |
Figure 1
Strategies and orientations in career support.
Table 3
Examples of categories of questions, and strategies and orientations used in the answers given.
| Category of questions asked | Examples of coded expressions | Strategies used in answers given | Orientations used in answers given |
|---|---|---|---|
| Need for recognition | B1016Q | Strengthening, balancing (B1016A) | Individual-oriented, market-oriented, organizational-oriented |
| F0412Q | Strengthening balancing enduring (F0412A) | Balancing between being individual-oriented and organizational-oriented | |
| How to advance? | B1023Q | Strengthening, compensating (B1023A) | Mutual-oriented |
| E0413Q | Balancing (E0413A) | ||
| How to understand the labor market? | E1026Q | Strengthening, balancing, compensating and enduring (E1026A) | Individual-oriented, market-oriented |
| C0108Q B1016Q | Strengthening, balancing (C0108A;B1016A) | Individual-oriented, market-oriented, organizational-oriented | |
| Experiences of injustice and of being controlled | D1013Q | Enduring, balancing strategy (D1013A; D1006A) | Balancing between being individual-oriented and organizational-oriented |
| D1006Q | |||
| Uncertainty in current/forthcoming role | F0426Q | Balancing, strengthening (F0426A) | Mutual-oriented, individual-oriented |
| E0316Q | Balancing strategy, strengthening (E0316A) | Mutual-oriented, individual-oriented |