Providing career guidance to aspiring Maltese entrepreneurs : some insights from the field

Abstract

The aim of this project is to provide some valuable insight into entrepreneurial careers from the Maltese entrepreneurs' perspective. These insights are meant to furnish persons working in career guidance with information which can assist them in providing services to entrepreneurs. Following a literature review which focused on the entrepreneurs and their careers and what influences them in their career decision making and entrepreneurial activities a qualitative research is carried out. The research was based on a set of in-depth exploratory interviews carried out with four Maltese entrepreneurs that were later analysed in order to identify themes. A number of factors were found to exert both positive and negative influence on the participating entrepreneurs' careers. The results of the research should provide a better understanding of: (a) the possible deterrent or incentive effects of pride on the initiation of an entrepreneurial career (b) the impact of fear on individuals' employment status and their inclination towards business growth as well as (c) the perceived negative stereotypes related to the activity of selling.