Future Work Self Research Articles

Career interest on calling: The chain mediating role of future work self and engaged learning

We investigated the role of future work self and engaged learning in the relationship between career interest and career calling. Students (n = 641; female = 235; mean age = 18.96 years, SD = 1.01 years) complete the Career Interest Scale, the Future Work Self Scale, the Engaged Learning Index, and the Chinese Calling Scale. Structural equation modelling and a Preacher’s mediation analysis indicated that intense career interest predicted a greater career calling. Future work self and engaged learning served as mediators between career interest and career calling. A stronger career interest predicted a more salient future work self, which promoted engaged learning and ultimately increased students’ career calling. Our findings suggested that career interest was an important prerequisite for career calling before future work self and engaged learning. Our findings have implications for learning oriented interventions on career calling among students.

Career maturity and career adaptability among vocational high school students: a moderated mediation model of future time perspective and future work self

Career maturity and career adaptability among vocational high school students: a moderated mediation model of future time perspective and future work self

Fostering career crafting by developmental HR practices: the mediating role of future work self and moderating role of AI awareness

PurposeThe deep integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) has triggered a transformation in career patterns, requiring employees to promptly adapt to changes in the vocational environment through career crafting. While human resource (HR) practices play a role in guiding employees' career self-management, further exploration is needed to determine the specific HR practices that organizations should adopt to facilitate employees' career crafting. This research takes developmental HR practices as a new premise for career crafting and examines the underlying mechanisms influencing the relationship between the two.Design/methodology/approachUsing a three-stage time lag method with a two-month lag in each stage, we collected sample data from 386 employees in the intelligent manufacturing industry and employed multiple regression analysis to test the research hypotheses.FindingsThe results of this paper show that developmental HR practices positively influence employees' career crafting behaviors through their future work self and that AI awareness moderates this relationship.Originality/valueDrawing upon career construction theory, we propose that developmental HR practices cultivate employees' future work self, thereby eliciting career crafting behaviors. Moreover, the mediating role of future work self is more pronounced when employees have a high level of AI awareness, as this awareness stimulates self-cognition-driven behaviors. These findings enrich the understanding of career crafting by shedding light on the career construction process in the relationship between developmental HR practices and career crafting and by identifying the boundary conditions for the relationship.

How and when artificial intelligence usage facilitates task performance

This study investigated how the increasing usage of artificial intelligence (AI) in diverse business applications has affected task performance. Building on the job demands–resources model, we employed moderated mediation modeling to investigate the association between AI usage and the task performance of delivery drivers. Participants comprised 251 delivery drivers who completed online surveys over a 1-month period. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that work engagement played a mediating role in the association between AI usage and the task performance of delivery drivers. Moreover, the mediating role of work engagement was moderated by an individual's concept of their future work self. When an individual had a stronger sense of their future work self, the mediating role of work engagement became more pronounced. This study has introduced a new mediating mechanism linking artificial intelligence with employee performance and has identified boundary conditions that increase its beneficial impact on employee performance, thus contributing theoretically to the extant literatures. The study findings can help companies improve employee engagement and performance.

How future work self salience shapes the effects of interacting with artificial intelligence

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world of work, leaving individuals wondering what AI means for the future of their career. The current research investigates the moderating role of future work self salience (FWSS) on the effect of interacting with AI on perceived control over one's future work self and proactive career behavior. In a first longitudinal experiment with full-time employees in the UK (N = 174), participants interacting with AI to solve a task (compared to a control group) experienced increased perceived control over their future work self when FWSS was high, in contrast to those with low FWSS. We replicated this pattern in a second longitudinal study with German business students (N = 208). Building on these findings, a third longitudinal experiment with German full-time employees (N = 155) extended the model by demonstrating a moderated mediation: for individuals with high FWSS, AI interaction increased perceived control over the future work self and thus promoted proactive career behavior. In contrast, perceived control and proactive career behavior decreased for those with low FWSS. This research demonstrates the potential impact of AI interactions on work-related outcomes, offering critical insights for both theory and practice.

My dream, my strength: proactive behavior as a mediator between future work selves and career adaptability during the early career

My dream, my strength: proactive behavior as a mediator between future work selves and career adaptability during the early career

Future Work Self Salience: Taking Stock and Moving Forward

Future Work Self Salience: Taking Stock and Moving Forward

How and when future orientation shapes weekly career adaptability

AbstractPrevious research has revealed higher career adaptivity leads to higher career adaptability from between‐person perspective. However, the construction of career adaptability is dynamic rather than static, so how career adaptivity influences episode‐level career adaptability from a within‐person perspective is critical but unknown. Drawing on career construction theory, we examined how future orientation, considered part of career adaptivity, influences weekly career adaptability. One wave of between‐person data (N = 97) and four waves of within‐person data (repeated measures) were collected from undergraduates in a Chinese university. The results found that future orientation positively predicted weekly career adaptability, and weekly future work self‐mediated the relationship between them. Loneliness negatively moderated the relationship between future orientation and weekly future work self and further negatively moderated the indirect effect of weekly future work self between future orientation and weekly career adaptability. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Linking undergraduates’ future work self and employability: a moderated mediation model

BackgroundThe career intentions of students play a crucial role in shaping the growth of the hospitality and tourism industry. Previous research underlines the significance of future work self in predicting outcomes related to one’s career. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the precise ways, timing, and conditions under which the future work self of undergraduate students can enhance their employability.MethodsThis paper aims to address the existing research gap by employing career construction theory and self-determination theory to propose a moderated mediation model—i.e., career exploration serves as a mediator and job market knowledge functions as a moderator in the relationship between future work self and employability. We conducted two independent studies (i.e., an experimental study and a time-lagged field study) to test the proposed model. Specifically, in Study 1 we employed an experimental research design to recruit 61 students majoring in tourism management to participate. They were randomly assigned to two scenarios (future work self: high vs. low), and we manipulated different levels of future work self by means of scenario descriptions. In Study 2, we used the time-lagged research design to collect data via submitting questionnaires among 253 Chinese undergraduates who majored in hospitality and tourism at a university in the middle area of China.ResultsThe results indicate a positive correlation between undergraduates’ future work self and their employability. Furthermore, this relationship is mediated by a mediator of career exploration. It is important to note that this mediating relationship is also contingent upon the moderator variable of undergraduates’ job market knowledge when considering the impact of career exploration on employability.ConclusionThe findings contribute to enriching the current understanding of the positive effects of future work self on undergraduates’ desirable outcomes in employability.

Exploring Careers for a Clearer Future Work-Self: The Influence of Proactive Personality as a Moderator

Middle school serves as a pivotal juncture in career development, where adolescents grapple with adaptability challenges during transitional phases such as entrance exams and the selection of elective majors. Simultaneously, they embark on integrating their ongoing learning tasks with their ideal aspirations to lay the groundwork for future career development. Against this backdrop, the significance of career exploration and understanding future developmental directions becomes particularly pronounced. To investigate the intricate relationship between career exploration and the clarity of one’s future work-self, along with the moderating role of proactive personality, this study employed the career exploration scale, proactive personality scale, and clarity of future work-self scale. Data from 457 high school students were collected, revealing a substantial positive correlation between career exploration and both future work self-clarity and proactive personality. Adjusting for gender and age highlighted proactive personality as a regulatory factor influencing the relationship between career exploration and future work self-clarity. Furthermore, the results underscored the crucial moderating role of proactive personality in shaping the connection between career exploration and the clarity of future work-self. In-depth analysis revealed noteworthy interactions, particularly with the environmental exploration dimension (standard coefficient of 0.849, p < 0.001). Similarly, interactions with self-exploration, goal-system exploration, and information quantity dimensions were also significant, featuring standard coefficients of 0.905 (p = 0.002), 0.935 (p < 0.001), and 0.854 (p < 0.001), respectively. In essence, these findings illuminate the nuanced dynamics at play, emphasizing the amplified connection between career exploration and the clarity of future work-self in the presence of higher proactive personality levels. This insight holds implications for educators, counselors, and researchers invested in fostering comprehensive career development strategies for adolescents.

Problem-solving ability and future time perspective among the Chinese nursing interns: The mediating role of future work self.

The significance of problem-solving ability has been confirmed in numerous studies worldwide, highlighting its role in enhancing the skills of nursing interns and reducing psychological pressure. However, existing research indicates that the problem-solving ability of nursing interns urgently needs to be further improved. Limited research has been conducted on the problem-solving ability of nursing interns, and the correlations among problem-solving ability, future time perspective, and future work self of Chinese nursing interns are unclear. To investigate problem-solving ability, future time perspective, and future work self among the Chinese nursing interns, and to examine the relationships among these variables. Additionally, the study aims to explore the mediating role of future work self between problem-solving ability and future time perspective. A cross-sectional and correlational design was employed, adhering to the quality reporting conformed to the STROBE Checklist. From May 8, 2023, to February 15, 2024, 1,251 nursing interns were recruited from 15 tertiary grade-A hospitals across six cities in China. The Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, Social Problem-Solving Inventory, Future Time Perspective Inventory, and Future Work Self Scale were used. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, univariate, correlation, and process plug-in mediation effect analyses. The total scores for problem-solving ability, future time perspective, and future work self were 64.39 ± 18.55, 45.08 ± 11.37, and 16.92 ± 5.28, respectively. Problem-solving ability was positively correlated with future time perspective (r = 0.638, p < 0.001) and future work self (r = 0.625, p < 0.001). Additionally, future work self partially mediated mediating role between problem-solving ability and future time perspective, accounting for 39.7% of the total effect. The problem-solving ability, future time perspective, and future work self among the Chinese nursing interns were relatively moderate, indicating a need for improvement. It is suggested that nursing managers and educators should actively implement career management and planning programs. By enhancing the future time perspective and future work self of nursing interns, their problem-solving ability can be improved. This, in turn, will facilitate their adaptation to clinical work, enhance the quality of nursing care, and promote the development of their nursing profession.

Yo laboral futuro y proactividad en la carrera profesional, el efecto mediador serial de la pasión académica y la resiliencia

University students develop proactive behaviors for better employability. An image of a future work self can motivate proactive actions in students. Personal resources such as academic passion and resilience may be the way by which the future work self generates proactive career behaviors. This paper aims to study the mediating effects between future work self, academic passion, and resilience to predict proactive career behavior. A total of 802 undergraduate students with ages ranging from 18 to 27 years, (M=23.2, SD=2.7) were recruited for this study. Descriptive analysis, correlations, and reliability of the scales have been performed. Then, a hierarchical regression model was designed to study the effect of interaction in a serial model with passion and resilience using PROCESS. The results showed significant independent indirect effects of future work self through harmonious passion and resilience on proactive career behavior. Furthermore, a serial mediation through harmonious academic passion and resilience was found. These results provide evidence of the role that academic passion plays in generating personal resources such as resilience The future work self may as well be a motivator for proactive career-oriented behavior in students.

Volunteer to bury your talents: the influence of work values on voluntary overqualification

PurposeIn recent years, there has been a growing trend of individuals willingly opting for employment positions that do not fully use their education, skills and abilities, a phenomenon known as voluntary overqualification. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence and the formation mechanism of this emerging phenomenon. Drawing upon social cognition theory, this study explores the relationship between work values and voluntary overqualification while also examining the mediating role of the future work self and the moderating role of perceived marketability.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a longitudinal approach, collecting data through questionnaires administered at multiple time points. The sample consisted of 607 employees from various departments of five Chinese companies. Regression analysis using the PROCESS macro in SPSS was used to test the research hypotheses.FindingsThe results indicate a positive relationship between employees’ work values and voluntary overqualification. Furthermore, this relationship is mediated by the future work self. Additionally, perceived marketability plays a moderating intermediary role in the whole model.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the overqualification literature by introducing a novel type of overqualification and unveiling the mechanism by which work values influence voluntary overqualification. The findings provide insights for understanding and managing employees who are voluntarily overqualified.

Identifying the Effective Social Factors on the Formation of Future Work Self

Identifying the Effective Social Factors on the Formation of Future Work Self

Peran Dukungan Sosial terhadap Career Search Efficacy dengan Moderator Future Work Self pada Mahasiswa di Kota Bandung

One of the developmental tasks in adolescence and early adulthood is finding the right career direction. Finding a career that matches your interests and ways to actualize yourself, becomes something that needs to be explored and start in adolescence. Students also cannot be separated from the exploration process to find a career that is in line with their interests and abilities. This career exploration process is lead to career search efficacy. In addition, the student's representation of himself in the future that reflects his expectations and aspirations related to work becomes very important to have. This research wants to see the role of social support, especially from parents and peers towards career search efficacy with the moderator of future work self-students. The population of this study is students in the city of Bandung. Data analysis techniques using linear regression between social support variables and career search efficacy, with future work self variables as moderators. The results showed that parental social support and peer social support simultaneously did not contribute to the variable career self-efficacy. Partial parental social support showed no contribution to predicting career self-efficacy. Similar results also occurred in peer social support that did not significantly contribute to predicting career self-efficacy. The future work self variable does not moderate the influence between parental social support and career self-efficacy. On the other hand, the future work self variable can moderate the influence between peer social support on career self-efficacy.

Future work self and proactive career behavior, the serial mediating effect of academic passion and resilience

University students develop proactive behaviors for better employability. An image of a future work self can motivate proactive actions in students. Personal resources such as academic passion and resilience may be the way by which the future work self generates proactive career behaviors. This paper aims to study the mediating effects between future work self, academic passion, and resilience to predict proactive career behavior. A total of 802 undergraduate students with ages ranging from 18 to 27 years (M = 23.2, SD = 2.7) were recruited for this study. Descriptive analysis, correlations, and reliability of the scales have been performed. Then, a hierarchical regression model was designed to study the effect of interaction in a serial model with passion and resilience using PROCESS. The results showed significant independent indirect effects of future work self through harmonious passion and resilience on proactive career behavior. Furthermore, a serial mediation through harmonious academic passion and resilience was found. These results provide evidence of the role that academic passion plays in generating personal resources such as resilience. The future work self may as well be a motivator for proactive career-oriented behavior in students.

The Mediating Roles of Future Work Self and Hope on the Association Between Perceived Social Support and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Vocational School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Depressive symptoms are serious mental health problems, which are harmful for adolescents' physical and psychological development. Limited studies have focused on depressive symptoms of vocational high school students, who are more susceptible to mental health problems than high school students. Based on the main effect model of social support and self-regulation theory, the current study aims at exploring two potential mediating roles of hope and future work self on the relationship between perceived social support and depressive symptoms among vocational high school students by a cross-sectional study. A total of 521 vocational high school students aged 14-21 (M= 16.45; SD= 0.91) participated in the survey. There were 266 males (51.1%) and 255 females (48.9%). The multidimensional scale of perceived social support, the future work self scale, the children's hope scale, and the center for epidemiologic studies depression scale were applied in the study. The results revealed that: (1) perceived social support, future work self, and hope were negatively related to depressive symptoms (r = -0.25 to -0.35, p < 0.001); (2) students who perceived more social support have fewer depressive symptoms (β = -0.22, p < 0.001); (3) perceived social support predicted a more salient future work self and then was associated with higher levels of hope, which in turn, was related to lower levels of depressive symptoms (β = -0.02, and 95% CI = [-0.035, -0.005]). Perceived social support was the protective factor against vocational school students' depressive symptoms. More specifically, stronger perceived social support predicted a more salient future work self, which promoted high level of hope, and ultimately decreased vocational school students' depressive symptoms. The findings provide enlighten implications for interventions on depressive symptoms among vocational high school students.

The impact of future work self on perceived employability and career distress

Future work self is a promising concept to understand how young people view and plan their careers in the contemporary workplace. In this study, we attempt to investigate its impacts on two career-related outcomes, namely, perceived employability and career distress. Informed by social cognitive career theory, we also explore the mediating role of career decision self-efficacy in the above relationships. Several hypotheses were developed and tested with a sample of 208 final-year undergraduate students (with a mean age of 21.5 and 145 of them are female) in China. The results of structural equation modeling and bootstrapping indicated that future work self has a positive relationship with perceived employability and a negative relationship with career distress, while these relationships are found to be mediated by career decision self-efficacy. Our study has advanced our understanding about how future work self contributes to career-related well-being among Chinese students.

Investigating students' attitudes towards translation technology: The status quo and structural relations with translation mindsets and future work self.

Despite the growing attention paid to the research of translation technology teaching (TTT), there is still a lack of studies on students' attitudes and the motivational factors in relation to it. To this end, the paper reports on a questionnaire-based study that describes students' attitudes towards translation technology (in the Chinese MTI context) and explores its structural relations with translation mindsets and future work self. Data were collected from 108 grade 2021 MTI students of three selected Chinese universities and analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling (SEM). The results demonstrate that Chinese MTI students' overall attitudes towards translation technology are slightly positive. So far, they perceive translation technology to be slightly effective for translation and are slightly mindful of it. They are slightly influenced by teachers and still feel inhibited when learning and using it. Furthermore, the results also indicate that growth translation mindsets positively influence students' attitudes towards the effectiveness of translation technology, teacher influence, exhibition to translation technology, and mindfulness about translation technology, whereas fixed translation mindsets only negatively predict students' teacher influence. Likewise, future work self-salience positively associates with students' attitudes towards the effectiveness of translation technology and mindfulness about translation technology, while future work self-elaboration positively relates to students' exhibition to translation technology. Among them, growth translation mindsets are the strongest predictor for all attitudes components. Theoretical and pedagogical implications are also discussed.

The educational quality perception, professional interest, and career choices among hospitality postgraduate students.

Brain drain has become an important issue throughout the health service sector, with gender imbalance and employment discrimination leading to an increasing number of master's graduates opting to leave the profession. To explore this issue, the study examines the impact of both internal and external factors on the employment choices of postgraduate students, which starting from the core factor of the quality of higher education and combined with the professional interest as personal factor. The study adopts the questionnaire survey method to collect questionnaire data from 338 hospitality postgraduate students in China's institutions of higher education. The study adopts Multiple Linear Regression analysis to draw the following conclusions: 1) there is a significant influence of educational quality perception on career choice, the higher the level of educational quality perception, the stronger the students' willingness to choose this field for career development; 2) there is a significant effect of professional interest on career choice, the higher the student's level of interest in the major, the greater the willingness to choose this field for career development. 3) Identity mediates the relationship between educational quality perception (and professional interest) and career choice, which means that educational quality perception and professional interest can contribute to career decisions by promoting students' identity; 4) Future work self positively moderates the relationship between identity and career choice. The clearer the students' goals for their future job development, the stronger the effect of professional identity on career choice. The research conclusions have positive implications for higher education and career guidance for postgraduate students in hospitality management.