Examining How Individual, Social, and Contextual Factors Affect Job Search Self-Regulation

Abstract

Job search is a dynamic, self-regulated process during which individuals engage in various behaviors and strategies to obtain employment, while considering individual and contextual factors (e.g., network centrality). As individuals engage in job seeking over time, they are likely to behave in an adaptive manner, to adjust their job search strategies, and to recover from the depleting effects of job search self-regulation. Furthermore, individual differences have the potential to interact with contextual boundaries in a way which may be predictive of job search behaviors over time. Although there has been increased attention to these issues, there is a need for deepening our understanding of whether and how individual, social, and contextual factors affect job search self-regulation across the entirety of the job search process. As such, this symposium seeks to highlight current advancements in the job search literature by considering how one’s social network, social capital, career alternative, and job search recovery affect self-regulatory processes and outcomes for better or for worse. By furthering the development of self-regulatory theory pertaining to job search, we highlight current and future directions for job search scholarship, while providing new, nuanced insights into job seekers’ experiences. Social Capital During Job Search: Influence on Processes and Outcomes Presenter: Serge P. Da Motta Veiga; American U. Presenter: Annika Wilhelmy; U. of Zurich Presenter: Katrin Hasler; Skillsgarden AG Presenter: Mirjam Ambuehl; Skillsgarden AG Presenter: Martin Kleinmann; U. of Zurich A Networking Perspective of Job Search for Graduating Students Presenter: Jomel Wei Xuan Ng; National U. of Singapore Presenter: Zhaoli Song; National U. of Singapore A Multi-Wave Study on the Role of Progress in Shaping the Self-Regulatory Dynamics of Job Seeking Presenter: Edwin A.J. Van Hooft; U. of Amsterdam Presenter: Jessie Koen; U. of Amsterdam Presenter: Anouk Kranenburg; U. of Amsterdam How Low Self-Efficacy and Few Career Alternatives Hamper Unemployed Job-Seekers’ Career Adaptation Presenter: Ute-Christine Klehe; Justus-Liebig U. Giessen Presenter: Thomas Kruppe; Institute for Employment Research Presenter: Ulrike Fasbender; Justus-Liebig U. Giessen Does Recovery Benefit Job Seekers? A Weekly Investigation Presenter: Rebecca MacGowan; U. of Arizona Presenter: Allison S. Gabriel; U. of Arizona Presenter: Serge P. Da Motta Veiga; American U.