Narratives of identity of self-initiated expatriates in Qatar Tracy Scurry, Jenny K. Rodriguez and Sarah Bailouni Business School, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK Abstract Purpose – The paper aims to contribute to the discussion about how SIEs articulate narratives as cognitive efforts to expand, restrict or adapt their repertoire of identities in highly regulated environments. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing from a social constructivist positioning, the paper explores situated social and relational practices using a qualitative framework that relied on primary data gathering through semi-structured interviews. Qatar is a context of particular interest for exploring identity narratives of SIEs given the highly regulated environment and the large numbers of non-nationals within the overall workforce. The study was conducted in an anonymous Qatari public shareholding company. Findings – Findings suggest that narratives of self are framed in relation to structural constraints and patterns of adaptation. These reveal the interplay between identity, careers and self-initiated expatriation at macro-country and micro-individual levels. As part of these themes, narratives of mobility and opportunity emerged in reference to career experiences and discussions about themselves (lives, identities, and expectations). Originality/value – The paper contributes to our current understanding of SIEs and encourages us to consider the importance of context in shaping the SIE experience. Similarly, the scarcity of literature about SIEs in GCC countries makes this paper a timely contribution. These contributions have significant implications not only for theoretical discussions about SIEs, but also for discussions on the interplay between migration, identity and global careers. Keywords Self-initiated expatriates, Careers, Narratives, Identity, Qatar, GCC Paper type Research paper Introduction Globalisation and internationalisation have changed the ways in which people work, experience everyday life, situate meanings, and establish a sense of identity and place (Conway, 2004; Massey, 2007; Berry, 2008; Devine-Wright and Clayton, 2010). New patterns and dynamics of migration and mobility have seen shifts in notions of spatial and temporal boundaries, described as an “era of mobilities” (Urry, 2007; Halfacree, 2012, p. 209) and global boundaryless careers (Carr et al., 2005). A fundamental element of this new landscape is the power of the unrestricted mobility of transnational capital, which alongside worker individual agency in the global labour market, has also meant a decentring of the local. Nevertheless, contradictions continue to be unresolved in relation to the impact of context. The interplay of identity with mobility has increased the dynamism and hybridity of identity, to a point where it is difficult to separate what is “local” and what is “global” (Easthope, 2009). This raises questions about the impact on the way individuals interact with, and position themselves within contexts. The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/1362-0436.htm The authors wish to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. They would also like to thank the Guest Editors, in particular Julia Richardson, for their comments and constant engagement throughout the development of this paper. CDI 18,1 12 Career Development International Vol. 18 No. 1, 2013 pp. 12-33 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1362-0436 DOI 10.1108/13620431311305926