Recruitment interviews for intermediate labour markets: Identity construction under ambiguous expectations

Intermediate labour markets (ILMs) provide fixed-term work opportunities and coaching for people in disadvantaged positions markets. We study 46 sequences from six audio-recorded recruitment interviews an ILM job targetted at who have been unemployed a prolonged period. Using ethnomethodological approach to identity, membership categorisation analysis conversation analysis, we how interviewers candidates construct negotiate is fit the job. present interactional moves through which participants jointly ‘fit job’ category treat candidate’s it as positive matter. Further, demonstrate are put interactionally difficult position interview there contradictory ambiguous expectations about ideal candidate. discuss results relation institutional logics of suggest that enhancing transparency might reinforce ethics ILMs.