Insight into job search self-regulation: Effects of employment self-efficacy and perceived progress on job search intensity

Abstract

This study builds on a self-regulation framework to examine the influence of employment self-efficacy and perceived progress on job search intensity. Results from a repeated-measures study with new labor market entrants indicated that job seekers with higher between-person chronic employment self-efficacy put more intensity in their job search compared to those with lower chronic employment self-efficacy. Notably, however, within-person analyses indicated that as employment self-efficacy increased, job search intensity subsequently decreased. These results provide support for social cognitive theory for between-person employment self-efficacy, and for control theory for within-person employment self-efficacy. Furthermore, increased perceived progress was positively related to subsequent job search intensity. The positive relationship of perceived progress with subsequent job search intensity was moderated by chronic employment self-efficacy, such that the relationship was positive only for job seekers with lower chronic employment self-efficacy.