The Interdependent Family‐Centric Career: Career Perspective of the Overseas Chinese in Indonesia

Abstract

This theoretical article presents an interdisciplinary approach to extend the scope of current career theories and their application to the overseas Chinese (OC) in Indonesia. Using an ecological model to analyze culture and an emic perspective, the article discusses several factors that affect careers of OC Indonesians. Factors such as culture, discrimination, subjective careers, Confucian values, and family business structure are discussed as variables that create a bounded career perspective. This conceptual view is used as a foundation to discuss the needs for future research and the development of a cross-cultural career model that is applicable in bounded career environments.

Chinese-Born International Students' Transition Experiences from Study to Work in New Zealand

“…Still others have pointed out that these traditional models and the more contemporary extensions of them are based on privileged white male experiences that are embedded with individualistic notions of the self (Lowe, 2005). As such, these models do not refl ect the careers of women, minorities or collectivist societies (O'Neil, Hopkins & Bilimoria, 2008;Perketi, 2008).…”

“…Interestingly, Shen and Herr (2004) found inter national postgraduate students studying in America used social networks developed during their study years that resemble 'weak-tie' connections. In theorising career opportunities of Chinese youth born in Indonesia, Perketi (2008) suggested that enacting career may be a manifestation of fulfi lling the role expectations embedded in interdependent social relations rather than a manifestation of an individualistic act of creating the self through career. In Leong and Serafi ca's (1995) words: 'Career development may be more closely linked to the fulfi lment of social roles and observance of such values as fi lial piety and reciprocal relationships within the family' (p. 92, cited in Perketi, 2008, p. 371).…”

Model Kepemimpinan Etnis Tionghoa Di Jawa Barat (Survei Pada Perhimpunan Fuqing Di Jawa Barat)

“…Istilah Chinese Overseas memiliki padanan kata dalam bahasa Mandarin Huaren yang artinya adalah Chinese people. Chinese Overseas didefinisikan sebagai penduduk keturunan Tiongkok yang hidup diluar negara Tiongkok yang menetap secara permanen di negara tersebut (Loy, 2012;Pekerti, 2008;Yeung, 2006).…”

Vietnamese Students' Transitions in Study Abroad Programs

“…This is an important point to note as six out of ten workers (61.5% of the total employment in Vietnam) are in the 'vulnerable employment' category, meaning they are own account (self-employed) or unpaid family workers (International Labour Organisation, 2010). That is a significant enough percentage to consider how to best adapt current theories such as boundaryless careers; we also need to take into account non-Western value systems (Pekerti, 2008). Thorn (2009, p. 443) stated that 'regardless of whether they [foreign sojourns] are long or short term, people who undertake self-initiated foreign experiences are operating in the boundaryless career paradigm, which differs from the traditional organisational career'.…”

“…Zikic and Hall (2009) acknowledged that there are certain barriers to career exploration, such as lack of opportunities and resources, social constraints and serendipity. Pekerti (2008) has argued that boundaryless career models are not universal. A closer look at the Asian or more specifically Vietnamese context is needed to understand if the boundaryless model applies to groups of students with less career direction, deeper social restrictions and obligations, and how differing religious beliefs may affect the perception of control that one has over one's career.…”