Crowdsourcing Career – Current Research on Career in a Boundaryless Field

Digitalization and technological progress have enabled new forms of work and organizational concepts, such as crowdsourcing, clickworking, and the gig economy. New forms of work are also emerging in career management and research, particularly in discussions about concepts such as the “boundaryless career” and the “protean career.” Central aspects of the boundaryless career, such as self-control of career paths and network formation beyond traditional organizations, are reflected in the forms of platform work. However, platform work is often considered to be precarious or to involve the segmentation of work. So, from the perspective of career management or career research, particularly the boundaryless career concept, how can crowdsourcing be viewed? What is the current state of research in this area? What added value does it offer companies (clients and platform providers) and contractors? These questions will be answered by conducting a narrative literature review. Companies benefit from global access to skilled workers, innovation potential, and flexible work design by using crowdsourcing. Platform providers can promote the qualification and retention of crowdworkers through systematic training and networking opportunities. New development opportunities and a better work-life balance are opening up for employees, but risks exist due to algorithmic control, lack of social security, and high levels of self-marketization pressure. Therefore, the research concludes that new HR and management concepts must be introduced to ensure the sustainable use of the opportunities offered by platform work and guarantee fair career prospects. Overall, the combination of platform work and boundaryless careers creates potential for career management but also presents challenges. This contribution’s added value lies in defining digital work as a transformative context for career research.