Membership negotiation in the first workplace : newcomers' experiences

Abstract

Purpose – This qualitative study aims to understand young professional newcomers’ experiences of communication processes in membership negotiation in their first workplace after graduation. Design/methodology/approach – Instead of a one-time interview, the participants were contacted five to ten times during the three to ten months, beginning when they entered the workplace. The data were analyzed using a constant comparative method. Findings – Three communication processes during membership negotiation were identified: developing reciprocity, seeking and perceiving acceptance and becoming an active member. To experience membership, newcomers need to achieve acceptance and engage in reciprocal communication in early interaction situations with managers and coworkers. Research limitations/implications – Only the experiences of newly graduated newcomers were studied. This study illustrates the communication processes and social interaction evolving in membership negotiation during newcomers’ entry. Practical implications – Organizations need to re-evaluate their short orientation programs to support membership negotiations in workplace communication. Social implications – By recognizing the communication processes during membership negotiation, the practices of newcomers’ entry can be developed to support the membership development. Originality/value – This study contributes to membership negotiation by showing how newcomers join the flow of membership negotiation through the processes of developing reciprocity, seeking and perceiving acceptance and becoming an active member.