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Why Do People Create Professional Identities?

The 21st century has seen how globalizing forces caused the rapid transmission of information and technology across the world and the consequent formation of a global village. With advancements in the field of science and technology, there is also an increasing need for the labour force to keep up with the ever-changing globalizing trends, be it fashion or work dynamics, so that no one would be left behind. This leads to increasing emphasis placed on the creation of professional image, which are perceptions held by one’s colleagues and business clients about one’s competence, character and composure (Roberts, 2005), due to the impressions conveyed by the former. Other than what has been discussed about globalization’s role in professional identities, there are alternative reasons for the creation of professional identities. People of the working population create professional identities not only due to globalization, but because of perceptions existent in society, demands of the career and expectations at work as well. In addition, supporting and opposing ideas would be brought in from three main sources, namely, “Changing faces: Professional Image Construction in Diverse Organizations” (Roberts, 2005), “Provisional Selves: Experimenting with Image and Identity in Professional Adaptation” (Ibarra, 1999) and “It’s a Brand-You World” (Lee-St. John, 2006).

Prior to looking at the reasons for professional identity creation, it is necessary to define the term “professional identity” clearly and explore how one goes about creating one’s professional identity. “Professional identity is defined as the relatively stable and enduring constellation of attributes, beliefs, values, motives, and experiences in terms of which people define themselves in a professional role” (Ibarra, 1999). This means that the concept of professional identity is only applicable to the workforce and it is related to impressions that a person desires others to have of him or her.

To create a...