Protean and boundaryless careers under constraint: the case of European self-initiated expatriates in Japan

Purpose This study explores how self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) construct and manage their careers in a culturally and institutionally distinct host country context. Drawing on protean and boundaryless career theory, the study investigates the career barriers faced by SIEs, the strategies they employ to manage them, and how gender shapes these experiences. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a qualitative, inductive approach based on semi-structured interviews with European SIEs working in Japan. The data was analyzed using the Gioia methodology to code, review and organize the data systematically. Findings Participants described structural exclusion, cultural misalignment, and institutional inflexibility as key constraints. In response, they pursued proactive, boundaryless and values-driven strategies, including networking, skill development and career recalibration. Female SIEs experienced a dual outsider status and had to perform identity work to gain legitimacy in male-dominated environments. Originality/value This study contributes to global career theory by examining how SIEs construct careers under constraint, introducing the concept of anchored boundaryless careers and highlighting the intersection of gender and foreignness in shaping expatriate trajectories within structurally complex and culturally unique labour markets.