The Career Development of Parliamentarians

Abstract

This chapter examines the career experiences of parliamentarians, with particular emphasis on how training and on-the-job learning contributes to their career development. It describes the significant changes in the vocational backgrounds of MPs and notes the rise of MPs transitioning from careers such as political advisers or aides. Such pre-parliamentary careers provide informal learning about the roles and activities of MPs, however, even these parliamentarians are likely to have skill gaps that need to be addressed through training. The chapter also examines the various parliamentary career types and argues that they will have divergent training needs, which extend beyond generic induction programs. The chapter reviews the predictors of career advancement of MPs and post-parliamentary career experiences. Finally, the chapter argues that traditional career theories are not appropriate frameworks through which to examine the career development of MPs. Instead, the recently developed boundaryless career perspective, with its hallmarks of career change and autonomy, provides a more suitable lens through which to interpret parliamentary careers. Applying this perspective, the chapter examines the specific competencies that parliamentarians need to develop to successfully navigate their careers. Specifically, MPs should attempt to acquire know-why competencies (developing identity and personal meaning from their work), know-whom competencies (building and maintaining mentoring relationships and personal networks) and know-how competencies (engaging in training activities to develop a portfolio of easily transportable skills).