COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF INDONESIAN EMPLOYEES: IMAGINARY AND NEEDS IN LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES

Abstract

Communication skills are viewed important for employees in the workplaces. However, many employers identify the employees' lackness of communication skills. Previous researches found that the inadequacy was generally derived from statistical results so that unclear problems emerge and uncertain explanations cannot be developed. Accordingly, this qualitative research aimed to understand the objective and subjective perspectives of Indonesian employees on their communication skills in local, national, and multinational companies. Therefore, semi-structured interviews were applied to managers and junior satff to collect data. Furthermore, Bourdieu's framework of capital was used for data analysis. The results showed that all participants collectivelly agreed that communication skills were essential abilities for meeting their occupational requirements, instead of technical skills. They particularly relate their communication skills with their English language proficiency due to global business markets. Subjectivelly, the managers argued that communication skills were important to support their daily office duties, mobilising professional opportunities, and to elevate job placements. While, the junior employees constructed their communication skills in relation to English certificates, job application, and to increase social status. In brief, this research indicated the complex understandings of imagined and real communication skills in the three workplace contexts.