eThesis - Kauppakorkeakoulun sähköiset gradut

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Objectives – The objective of this study is to explain relationship between language and careers. In particular study aims to see the impact of employees’ language background on their career success: job status and pay, by (1) looking into existing literature about boundaries in individual’s career success; (2) investigating the role of language in career success through analysis of quantitative data on employment and wage figures collected through the SEFE (Suomen Ekonomiliitto) survey of its members. Individuals’ language background in the context of the study means mother tongue of employees being Finnish or Swedish. Study is conducted based on the data collected in Finland.

Methodology – The study is based on the data that is of quantitative nature (large sample, structured data collection process) therefore quantitative study approach was selected. Consequently statistical data analysis tools was used. Study is based on the survey results for year 2010. About 13000 questionnaires were sent. Total amount of questionnaires answered was 4057.

Findings and conclusions – The study has disclosed a number of situations when language had an effect on work related behaviour of individuals. It was found that objective career success factors are affected more by non-language individual background characteristics (such as gender and age of employees) than by language background (mother tongue). Company level analysis disclosed different results where non-language company background information didn’t reveal correlation with career success factors. Company language background turned to be more important for the career success factors of individuals working there.

Research limitations - No longitude data was available. Therefore it is not possible to determine the importance of language in career success development through years. The study is rather a snapshot of the current situation of employees and their individual career success depending on language.