Career Theory Research Articles

A Consequence of Social Entrepreneurial Intent: The Good Life

This study examines the relationship between personal dispositions, social entrepreneurial intent (SEI) and the good life in a sample of 2,000 college students in Los Angeles, Manila, Mexicali, Taipei and Yantai. Social cognitive career theory posits that a specific career choice—in this case, becoming a social entrepreneur—affects individuals’ experience of a good life, and SEI mediates the relationship between personal dispositions and the good life. This article presents and empirically tests a broad conceptualisation of the good life—going beyond happiness and satisfaction—to include subjective and psychological well-being, freedom to make life choices, quality of social relations and pathways to reach goals. Extending the previous research, the study finds that the personal dispositions of trust, optimism, generosity and healthy life expectancy were robust predictors of SEI and that SEI mediated the relationship between personal dispositions and the good life. Finally, cultural context mattered; long-term orientation, low masculinity and high indulgence partially moderated the disposition-to-SEI-to-good life relationship.

Voices from Graduate School and the Workforce: Identified Student Outcomes from Completing a Multi-Semester Undergraduate Research Experience Capstone

Recent reforms in undergraduate science education have highlighted the need for student-centered learning that challenges students to take ownership of the scientific process through conducting authentic research. As such, Undergraduate Research Experiences (UREs) have become more prevalent in higher education. However, extensive variations in the structures, durations, and contexts of UREs exist and long-term implications are not well documented. We used the Social Cognitive Career Theory to guide our exploration of student outcomes from completing a required three-semester capstone URE at a predominantly undergraduate institution located in the Midwest, United States. We sought to answer two central research questions: (1) What skills and competencies do alumni perceive to have gained from completing the URE capstone, and (2) What is the impact of the URE capstone on alumni success in the workforce and/or graduate school? We conducted in-depth, one-on-one interviews with 16 alumni who recently completed their undergraduate research capstone and who were currently in a science-based career or attending graduate school. Results indicate long-term benefits from URE capstones and are described through three primary themes: technical skill acquisition and future application, soft skill acquisition and future application, and scientific pursuits.

Career paths of multiple jobholders: employers' perspectives and employees' experiences in retail and food service

PurposeMultiple jobholding (MJH) is assumed to be a growing phenomenon due to working life changes. This study presents new knowledge on the MJH career paths, from the perspectives of both employers and employees.Design/methodology/approachThe qualitative interview study was focused on retail trade and restaurant and food service industries in Finland, where MJH is a quite common work arrangement compared to other European countries. The data were analyzed with the concepts of the chaos theory of careers and with an abductive thematic content analysis.FindingsAccording to the results, several events and intertwined factors may lead individual careers gradually to MJH. Changing personal and family situations and leisure time needs attracted the careers towards MJH. MJH was not only a financial necessity to employees, but it also served their flexibility interests. The interviewed employers applied flexible non-standard employment arrangements mainly due to rapidly varying labor needs established in the industries. It was important for them to strengthen the non-standard core employees' sense of belonging to the work community. However, employees with work ability challenges were in risk to end up in peripheral positions at the labor market.Originality/valuePrevious research on multiple jobholding has not combined employers’ perspectives of MJH to employees’ experiences of career paths.

Effects of Gender Stereotypes on Career Aspirations in Adolescents in Kenya

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the effects of gender stereotypes on career aspirations in adolescents in Kenya. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: A study in Kenya found that gender stereotypes strongly shape adolescents' career aspirations. Boys lean towards traditionally masculine careers like engineering, while girls are inclined towards feminine roles like nursing. Societal and familial pressures also limit career choices based on gender norms. This highlights the importance of interventions to challenge stereotypes and promote gender equality in education and career opportunities. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social cognitive career theory (SCCT), social role theory & intersectionality theory may be used to anchor future studies on effects of gender stereotypes on career aspirations in adolescents in Kenya. Schools and educational institutions should implement gender-sensitive career counseling programs that challenge traditional gender stereotypes and promote diverse career options for both boys and girls. Policymakers should develop and implement inclusive education policies that promote gender equality and challenge gender stereotypes within the educational system.

The effect of parents’ support, protean career orientation and self-perceived employability on the school-to-work transition

PurposeThe increasing complexity of global labor markets and work environments has made the school-to-work transition more difficult. We explore factors that influence important career outcomes for young adults in China as they transition from their university to the labor market. Specifically, we examine how protean career orientation, self-perceived employability, mother’s and father’s career support and human capital (English language proficiency) may influence career satisfaction and employment status during adulthood.Design/methodology/approachWe collected survey data in two waves, six months apart, and obtained English proficiency ratings from university records.FindingsFather’s and mother’s career support was significantly associated with protean career orientation and protean career orientation was significantly related to self-perceived employability. Self-perceived employability was significantly associated with career satisfaction and employment status. The career support-career satisfaction and career support-employment status relationships were fully mediated by protean career orientation and self-perceived employability. Contrary to expectations, the human capital variable of English language proficiency did not moderate the serial mediation involving either career satisfaction or employment status.Originality/valueBy integrating protean career theory, human capital theory and research on parental support, we offer an interdisciplinary contribution to the school-to-work transition literature. We also advance protean career theory by studying it as a mediating variable and by examining parental support as an antecedent of it.

Employee job security and job performance: the mediating role of well-being and the moderating role of perceived organizational support and psychological capital

PurposeGrounded in social cognitive career theory, this study investigates how employees' perceptions of job security and well-being affected their performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also examines the moderating effects of perceived organizational support and psychological capital on well-being and performance.Design/methodology/approachUsing a two-wave time-lagged design, data were collected from 279 frontline employees in public service organizations in Saudi Arabia.FindingsThe study’s results show that perceived job security significantly affects job performance. Employee well-being significantly and positively influences job performance and partially mediates the relationship between perceived job security and job performance. Additionally, perceived organizational support and psychological capital positively moderated the relationship between employee well-being and job performance during the pandemic.Practical implicationsThis study suggests that policymakers and practitioners need to prioritize addressing the job security concerns and well-being of frontline employees during a pandemic to enhance employee performance.Originality/valueOur findings present significant implications for policymakers in the context of job security and performance within public organizations in emerging countries.

Experiences of junior dental faculty transitioning from clinician to educator.

Dental faculty enter academia, after a career in practice or directly from school, without any formal education training. Faculty development programs have been designed based on survey needs assessments, but not on in-depth descriptions of junior faculty transition experiences. The purpose of this research project is to describe the transition experiences of dental faculty from clinician to educator within the last 5 years. A qualitative multiple case study approach from an emic perspective was used. An emic approach is an analysis from the perspective of one who participates in the group being studied. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 junior dental faculty. Thematic analysis identified common themes in the data through the lens of the social cognitive career theory. Three salient themes were extracted from the data: guidance, job satisfaction, and motivating factors. Guidance was the main theme with participants revealing their need for more formal preparation regarding teaching, formal mentorship, and career progression goals. Participants find academia highly rewarding, and a unique finding was that physical injury was a major factor to entering academia. This study reveals that junior dental faculty members feel unprepared for their teaching role and highlights the benefits of mentorship in helping them develop their vocational goals and advance their careers. This study illuminates why clinicians choose to leave clinical practice, the preparation they receive, the areas in which they feel unprepared, and how they develop their teaching skills. These insights can help academic institutions better support their faculty and improve student learning outcomes.

Career exploration and its influence on the relationship between self-efficacy and career choice: The moderating role of social support

Career choice is a highly complex process. The growth in the number, nature, and overlap between occupations creates a more multifaceted career landscape, especially for young people. This study expands the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) by developing a model that includes additional factors influencing career choices, such as self-efficacy, career exploration, and social support. A convenient sampling method was applied, with 340 Vietnamese students responding to the questionnaire on Google Forms between August and October 2022. The results supported the research hypotheses, with environmental exploration emerging as the most decisive factor influencing career choice. The most exciting finding of this article is the negative impact of social support on the relationship between environmental exploration and career choice. Finally, the results underscore the significance of implementing career guidance and providing career experiences for university students at educational institutions.

Mapping the foundations and evolution of career aspiration research: a bibliometric analysis

PurposeThis bibliometric literature review aims to uncover the (1) intellectual foundations and (2) topical evolution in the field of career aspiration research.Design/methodology/approachWe employed the systematic literature review methodology following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. According to the predetermined criteria, 286 articles were included from the Web of Science database. Then, we employed performance analysis, science mapping and natural language processing to address our research objectives.FindingsCo-citation analysis uncovered four foundational themes: (1) gender and leadership aspiration, (2) Social Cognitive Career Theory, (3) process of career development and (4) adolescents’ career aspiration. Moreover, co-word analysis showed that scholarly foci have shifted from adolescents’ career development to diverse streams. This shift was indicated by the exploration of additional research samples, such as university students, and topics related to specific aspirations (e.g. entrepreneurial and managerial aspirations) and gender issues (e.g. women leadership and gender stereotypes).Research limitations/implicationsAlthough this review has limitations related to data selection, it presents implications for practice, theory and future research on career aspirations.Originality/valueThe study illuminated the past and development of a research domain, thus advancing the understanding of career aspirations and inspiring future research.

A Social Cognitive Career Theory Study of Agricultural Mechanical Trade Workers

Attracting and retaining skilled workers in agriculture is a global problem. Shortages of essential workers disrupt supplies of goods and services from the point of production on farms through manufacturing, transport, to ultimate consumption. The global pandemic’s effect on food supply was a salutary lesson in the effects of a diminished agricultural workforce. Agricultural mechanics are vital to productivity. The present research used the social cognitive career theory to explore agricultural mechanics’ careers. An exploratory qualitative study deployed interviews to collect data from N = 19 mechanical trade workers. Interviews were centered on participants’ descriptions of their work regarding theoretical constructs including self-efficacy, outcome expectations, satisfaction, dispositional traits, and contextual affordances. Reflective thematic analysis of the data produced concordance with key constructs of the social cognitive career theory sufficient to justify its utility for research with this specific agricultural occupation. This research makes an important contribution to the literature of vocational psychology which can and should contribute to solving the complex problem of supporting a workforce needed for agriculture’s ongoing challenge of feeding and clothing the world’s growing population.

Mental health and early career adaptation challenges of Chinese returnees and Korean ambitionists among the STEAM doctoral cohorts in the post-pandemic academic job market

ABSTRACT This longitudinal study presents a critical phenomenological comparison of mental health and early career adaptation challenges encountered by Chinese returnees and Korean ambitionists in the post-pandemic academic job market. They were international doctoral candidates in American higher education pursuing academic careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) but failed to secure tenure-track faculty positions. Consequently, all Chinese returned to their home country, while all Koreans remained in the United States. Findings demonstrate that both groups commonly experienced racial trauma, career anxiety, and ambiguous loss, albeit within each group’s diverse circumstances and immigration status, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study suggests implementing trauma-informed care within the chaos theory of careers. Therefore, this study calls upon the global public, intellectual societies, policymakers, and counsellors in comparative and international education to develop appropriate coping strategies and provide these emerging scholars with mental health counselling and career support services.

Foreign language proficiency, career behaviors, and turnover‐related outcomes: A social cognitive career theory perspective of host country national employees in foreign subsidiaries

AbstractWhile the majority of employees in foreign subsidiaries are host country nationals (HCNs) who use English as a second language in their work tasks, little research focuses on the impact of English proficiency on their career‐related behaviors and outcomes. This paper applies social cognitive career theory (SCCT) to link HCN employees' English proficiency to their career‐related behaviors and outcomes in two time‐lagged studies in foreign subsidiaries. Study 1 conducted with 542 HCN employees in the Philippines suggests that career environment exploration mediates the positive English proficiency–turnover intention relationship. Study 2 conducted with 493 HCN employees in Japan suggests self‐initiated headhunter contacts to mediate the positive English proficiency–voluntary turnover relationship and job embeddedness moderate the self‐initiated headhunter contact‐turnover relationship.

Gender Perspectives on Role Models: Insights from STEM Students and Professionals

Qualified professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and STEM education are in increasingly short supply globally. Role models can help increase women’s representation in STEM, both at entry and senior levels. The study objectives were to identify the characteristics of role models in STEM higher education and careers and to investigate the differences in role model characteristics between career stages and between genders. We used a mixed-methods methodology involving a questionnaire and interviews. The participants, 788 alumni and final-year undergraduate and graduate students from a STEM research university, responded to the questionnaire, and ten leading women in STEM professions were interviewed. The questionnaire results indicated that a higher proportion of women than men reported being influenced by a role model during their studies. Seven key characteristics of role models were identified from the open-ended responses and the interviews: ambitious, charismatic, empathic and encouraging, inspiring, knowledgeable, gifted, and professional. The most frequent characteristics women mentioned were empathic and encouraging. The research findings support and align with the social cognitive career theory (SCCT), demonstrating how role modeling, which is part of the environmental theme, boosts intrinsic motivation—part of the personal theme, for individuals in STEM, especially women. These processes impact women’s determination and professional performance—part of the behavioral theme. Based on our findings, to advance toward a STEM workforce characterized by greater fairness, we recommend designing and deploying structured mentoring programs and forums in STEM departments that can provide young women with more role models for success and thus with more hope for success in these fields.

The dynamics of employability capitals for the transition to work: career identity, cultural capital, job interview self-efficacy and self-perceived employability

Purpose This study aims to understand how employability capitals’ dynamics foster self-perceived employability (SPE) among students and graduates, which is still being empirically explored. Building upon the Employability Capital Growth Model and the Social Cognitive Career Theory’s career self-management model, we aimed to understand how different capitals associate by testing a serial mediation model connecting career identity (reflecting career identity capital) and SPE through the serial mediation of cultural capital and job interview self-efficacy (ISE) (an element of psychological capital).Design/methodology/approach We adopted a two-wave design involving 227 Italian University students and graduates. We recruited participants through multi-channel communication. The hypothesised relationships were analysed employing the structural equation modelling approach with the SPSS AMOS statistical package.Findings The results indicated that career identity, cultural capital, ISE and SPE are meaningfully related. In particular, in line with our expectations, we observed that career identity predicts cultural capital, which is positively associated with ISE which, ultimately, impacts SPE.Originality/value Our work adds to existing research by advancing the understanding of employability capitals, explaining how they interact and influence SPE, which is crucial for a sustainable transition into the workforce. At a practical level, our findings call upon, and guide, efforts from various stakeholders in the graduate career ecosystem (i.e. universities and their partners) to offer students and graduates meaningful experiences to form and use their employability capitals.

Effect of proactive personality on career adaptability of higher vocational college students: the mediating role of college experience.

For higher vocational students, the college stage is an important period in their career development, and the college experience plays an important role in the relationship between their proactive personality and career adaptability, which in turn has a significant impact on their future career development. From the perspective of social cognitive career theory and taking 476 vocational students as samples, this paper explores the mediating role of college experience between proactive personality and career adaptability of vocational college students. The college experience scale is revised for higher vocational students, and it is verified to have good reliability and validity. SPSS and Amos were used to conduct correlation analysis，and the PROCESS macro was used for mediating effect analysis. The results show that the college experience of vocational students plays a partial mediating role in the effect of proactive personality on career adaptability. This work innovatively uses social cognitive career theory to explore the role of college experience in the relationship between proactive personality and career adaptability among vocational students. The theoretical models are established and empirical verification is conducted, confirming that higher vocational students' college experience can affect their career adaptability. These results provide empirical evidence for vocational colleges to improve the career guidance of college students, and intervention measures are proposed to enhance students' career adaptability during school years, thus promoting their sustainable development.

On your marks, get set, go! Jumping the hurdles of employability development at an early career stage

This study draws on contributions from Social Cognitive Career Theory and Conservation of Resources theory to investigate how configurations of career barriers associated with gender and ethnicity influence the development of perceived employability. Our study with graduates surveyed before and two years after completing their degrees, shows that groups of graduates perceiving higher career barriers experience a significant decline in perceived employability during the early stage of their careers. In contrast, those perceiving fewer career hurdles report a more stable employability trajectory and have higher perceived employability two years after graduating. Our study contributes to the literature by showing that perceived employability does not necessarily increase with labor market experience but can instead remain stable or even decline depending on perceived career hindrances.

Gender Dynamics in STEM Fields: Women's Experiences in Different Cultural Contexts

Purpose: The general aim of this study was to explore gender dynamics in STEM fields particularly, women’s experiences in different cultural contexts. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the gender dynamics in STEM fields. Through a comparative analysis across diverse cultural settings, significant variations in women's experiences in STEM were revealed, with some societies demonstrating greater gender equity and support for women. However, persistent disparities and challenges related to cultural norms and gender roles were observed in others. The research underscored the intersectional nature of gender dynamics in STEM, emphasizing the interconnectedness of gender with other dimensions of identity such as race and ethnicity. Additionally, cultural stereotypes and societal expectations were identified as significant barriers to women's participation and advancement in STEM fields. The findings underscored the importance of context-specific approaches to promoting gender equity in STEM and highlighted the need for challenging stereotypes and fostering inclusive environments for women in STEM fields globally. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social Cognitive Career theory (SCCT), intersectionality theory and Cultural-Historical Activity theory (CHAT) may be used to anchor future studies on gender dynamics in STEM fields. The study provided valuable recommendations with significant implications for theory, practice, and policy. It contributed to theoretical advancements by highlighting the intersectional nature of gender dynamics in STEM, offering practical recommendations for stakeholders in education and workforce development, and suggesting policy interventions aimed at promoting gender equity in STEM fields. The study emphasized the importance of organizational change, global collaboration, and continuous evaluation and improvement in advancing gender equity in STEM. By implementing these recommendations, stakeholders could work towards creating more equitable and inclusive environments where women could thrive and contribute meaningfully to STEM fields worldwide.

Career adaptation in higher education: a study with non-working and working students

The career construction and sociocognitive career theories were considered to test an integrative model of career adaptation in higher education. Participants were 523 Portuguese university students (non-working, n = 335, Mage = 20.64; working, n = 188, Mage = 29.05), who completed measures of social support, protean orientation, adaptability and adapting as adaptation predictors, and career certainty, academic wellbeing, and life satisfaction as adaptation outcomes. Multigroup path analysis results indicated a good fit of the model and invariance across groups after some changes. Although more studies are needed to explore the range and limits of the proposed model validity, our findings allow the career development literature extension while informing the practice. Career counselors might facilitate university students’ adjustment by helping them expand their social network and develop their career attitudes.

Testing a social cognitive model of career self‐management with Turkish undergraduate students

AbstractThis study investigated the direct and indirect associations between social–emotional learning (SEL) skills, career decision self‐efficacy (CDSE), vocational outcome expectations (VOE), and career engagement (CE) within social cognitive career theory (SCCT) in a sample of Turkish university students. Junior and senior students (N = 460) completed the Social–Emotional Learning Scale‐Young Adult Form, the Career Decision Self‐Efficacy Scale‐Short Form, the Vocational Outcome Expectations Scale, the Career Engagement Scale, and the Demographic Information Form. Data was collected during COVID‐19 lockdowns in 2021. The results of a multiple serial mediation model indicated that higher SEL skills were related to higher CDSE and VOE, and, in turn, to CE. Overall, the results show that SCCT provides a promising framework for identifying predictors of CE, self‐directed career management behavior, in young adults during the transition from school to work. These findings have implications for theory, research, and practice by identifying potential influences on CE during COVID‐19.

Perceived parental career expectation and adolescent career development: The mediating role of adolescent career-planning and goal-setting self-efficacy and the moderating role of perceived parent-adolescent career congruence.

The underlying mechanisms (i.e., linking and conditioning mechanisms) in the association between perceived parental career expectation and adolescents' career development remain understudied. Under the guidance of the social cognitive career theory, this study used three-wave longitudinal data from 3,196 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 15.55 years old, SD = .44; 52.8% girls at Wave 1) to fill such gaps. Results indicate conditional indirect effects. Specifically, the indirect association of perceived parental career expectation with adolescents' career adaptability and ambivalence via adolescents' career-planning and goal-setting self-efficacy was stronger when perceived parent-adolescent career congruence was higher than that when perceived parent-adolescent career congruence was lower. Such effects were identified even after various career-related parenting practices were controlled for. Implications for theory, future research and interventions were also discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).