Från jaget till laget : En kvalitativ studie om nyexaminerades upplevelser att bli en del av en ny arbetsplats

Sammanfattning

When a recent graduate enters their first workplace after graduation, it can be seen as an uncertain period. They face the challenge of managing a completely new professional role while also integrating into an already established workgroup. This study examines how recent graduates experience their initial period at their first workplace after their studies, focusing on onboarding and belonging. Organizations often work to socialize new employees, but the process is mutual, as the new employees make efforts to fit in at the workplace. It is therefore relevant to investigate which socialization tactics organizations use and which strategies the new graduates themselves employ. To investigate this, Berger and Luckmann's (1991) theory of socialization, Van Maanen and Schein's (1977) theory of organizational culture and organizational socialization, and Goffman's dramaturgical perspective was used. The study was based on qualitative interviews with six respondents. Based on the respondents, it can be understood that their introduction process started out formal and then transitioned to informal, which provided an appreciated combination of structure and freedom. During this process, there was an effort to appear professional and competent as recent graduates in a new workplace. Thus, the respondents observed the workplace and their colleagues' behaviors to understand the organizational culture and the unwritten rules. Through this, the recent graduates were able to use different strategies to create a certain impression of themselves and thereby fit in.