Careers in Ethiopia: an exploration of careerists’ perceptions and strategies

Examines the small but growing literature placing career related behaviours and practices within their national context and outlines a Western framework of career strategies. Identifies some of the key economic, social and political developments in Ethiopia’s recent history and presents and discusses data from a survey of Ethiopian careerists which explores factors influencing career decisions, levels of (and reasons for) career optimism/pessimism, and career strategies employed. Data from a previous study are presented to enable a comparison of the strategies of Ethiopian and UK careerists. Ethiopian careerists are found to make use of all those career strategies used by UK careerists and, in addition, employ “national politics” and “family and tribal/ethnic affiliations” in their efforts to gain career advancement.