Boundaryless Careers’ Dark Side: Orientation, Plateauing, Exhaustion, Exit Intentions and Personality

Abstract

Substantial research has been conducted to understand the dynamics of contemporary careers, yet relatively little is known about the complexities of these theoretical models or about their potential dark side. Applying the theories of boundaryless career and conservation of resources, we examine the relationships between the two dimensions of the boundaryless career orientation (BCO), namely the boundaryless mindset (BM) and mobility preferences (MP), with what are generally considered negative career variables. A moderated serial mediation model was tested using data from 196 Indian public sector employees who completed surveys at two points in time (6 months apart). The predicted direct relationships of BM and MP with turnover (TI) and early retirement (ERI) intentions were significant. Career plateau and emotional exhaustion mediated the relationships between the BM-TI and MP-TI when moderated by the dark triad of personality. This study’s findings offer a more nuanced understanding of boundaryless career theory.