Lisa Paier's Master Thesis Explores Job Interviews as Sites of Biographical Learning

Lisa Paier's Master thesis, published in Klagenfurt in April 2026, investigates job interviews as distinct venues for biographical learning rather than merely selection tools. The study analyses six qualitative interviews, showing that candidates often re‑interpret their life narratives after the interview, moving from adapting to perceived employer expectations toward a self‑directed reconstruction of their biographies. The research highlights that painful experiences such as rejection act as catalysts for deeper learning, but these processes can only unfold fully when recruiters create an open, interactive interview space.

The thesis contributes to adult education literature by framing interview contexts as high‑density learning moments, emphasizing the role of reflective practices in identity development.