Publication: Career Development of Free Agent Workers

• Imel, Susan

Various economic, technology-related, and other factors have
converged to serve as a catalyst for the emergence of
workers who consider themselves free agents. Estimates of
the number of free agent workers range from 12.9 to 25
million. Individual free agent workers may take widely
varying approaches to their careers; however, all have
taken charge of their careers, consider interesting work a
priority, and make increasing their skills an important
part of their strategy. Emerging concepts of career
development pertinent to the free agent worker model
include the concept of the boundary-less career (not tied
to traditional career paths) and internal versus external
careers (self-estimation of career events versus actual
jobs held). Because free agent workers have nontraditional
careers, they lack access to the traditional career
development opportunities that are available to workers who
follow more traditional career paths. Two important career
development strategies for free agent workers are engaging
in learning and networking. Free agent learning is
voluntary, self-directed, and focused primarily on new
jobs. Networks serve several career development-related
purposes for free agent learners. For example, networks
fulfill free agent workers' need for contact with others,
and they provide the contacts needed for professional
success and survival. The networks may be virtual or take
more traditional forms, including regular conference calls
and meetings. (Contains 10 references.) (MN)