Self-directed Career Management Research Articles

When doubts take over: a longitudinal study on emerging disengagement in the PhD process

The purpose of the present investigation is to shed light on the intraindividual (i.e., within-person) process of distancing from the goal of obtaining a PhD. Based on the motivational theory of action crisis, we assume that a lack of both individual (here: self-directed career management) and external (here: social support) resources may fuel doubts concerning PhD completion. An action crisis, in turn, is proposed to undermine the subsequent motivation to engage in proactive behavior and seek out social support. We analyzed five waves of longitudinal self-report data (NT1 = 2011 PhD students, 61.7% men; half-year intervals) with the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model. This method allows to separate between-person from within-person effects. As expected, we found intraindividual increases in self-directed career management and perceived social support to reduce the development of an action crisis, and vice versa. Practical implications on how to avoid a loss spiral in the PhD process are discussed.

Pursuing Money and Power, Prosocial Contributions, or Personal Growth: Measurement and Nomological Net of Different Career Strivings

There is considerable agreement that individuals need an “inner compass” to manage their careers as self-directed and values-driven. However, how different career strivings (i.e., long-term, values-related career goals) affect career development remains largely unaddressed. To tackle this issue, we conducted a study to develop and validate new scales to assess self-enhancement, self-transcendence, and personal growth career strivings, representing key self-focused and other-focused extrinsic and intrinsic career goals. The validation of the scales among 389 U.S. and 490 German workers confirmed that career strivings are differentially related to existing measures of intrinsic and extrinsic career goals, work values, and motivational work strivings. Moreover, we confirmed with a time-lagged study among 354 German workers that career strivings (especially personal growth strivings) relate positively to career commitment, career satisfaction, and life meaningfulness. The studies support the utility of examining different career strivings as critical motivational factors in self-directed career management in future research.

Career Competencies for Academic Career Progression: Experiences of Academics at a South African University

An understanding of career competencies is critical for the progression of academic careers, as it influences the availability of adequate and capable academic staff at all levels within universities. The study aimed to explore and describe the career competencies that academics demonstrate to successfully progress in their careers, while theoretically underpinned by an integrated competency framework. This report is based on the qualitative experiences, gathered through semi-structured interviews of eight academic staff in various career phases, in a South African university. Data was thematically analysed, while a deductive modality was adopted to identify the competencies. The findings align very closely with the dimensions of the integrated competency framework, including reflective competencies: gap analysis, self-evaluation, social comparison, and goal orientation; communicative competencies: information seeking and negotiation; and behavioural competencies: strategy alignment, control and agency, university awareness, continuous learning and collaboration. Whilst the study did not include a comparative analysis, it is interesting to note that strategy alignment was the most commonly found competency, with negotiation only demonstrated by more senior academics. A career competency approach provides leaders and development practitioners in the higher education sector with factors to consider, as they attempt to understand holistic development for academic career progression. Moreover, how to assist and support the development of academic career progression. It offers academics a keen awareness, as a personal resource, to engage and navigate self-directed career management behaviour.

Impact of Employees’ Protean Career Attitudes on Affective Commitment to organization (With special reference to financial sector in Sri Lanka)

With the emergence of new career theories, the present study attempted to provide insight upon the influence of protean career attitudes on an individual’s affective commitment to their employing organization. As to date, there have been fewer theoretical and empirical research findings related to this topic. Within the literature this topic was done by various researchers, however, there is a knowledge gap it does not vitally answer the question with respect to if protean career attitudes impact affective commitment. A quantitative method research design was used. The data collection method was done using self-administered questionnaires and distributed to 100 young employees by using a convenient sampling technique. Data analysis was performed using simple and multiple regression analysis. The findings of the study indicated that young employees with protean career attitudes have a positive impact on affective commitment. Results of regression analysis show self-directed career management and value-driven predispositions positively related to affective commitment. The findings of the study concluded that young employees with a protean career attitude are even emotionally attached to the organization. Further, the study recommended that it would be important for the employers to provide more varied experiences and development opportunities inside the organization are more committed affectively to their organizations, they control over their work environment.
 Keywords: Affective commitment, Protean career attitudes, Self-directed career, Value-driven predispositions

The Effects of Grit on Self-directed Career Management and Career Success

The Effects of Grit on Self-directed Career Management and Career Success

Short forms of protean and boundaryless career attitudes scales in the Turkish context: validation and psychometric evaluation

This project validates the short forms of protean and boundaryless career attitude scales and assesses their psychometric properties in the Turkish context. Two studies confirmed the two-factor structure and good internal consistency. Career planning was positively related to the short forms of self-directed career management, values-driven career orientation, and boundaryless mindset subscales, indicating concurrent validity. The short forms of self-directed career management, values-driven career orientation, and boundaryless mindset subscales were positively related to proactive personality and mastery goal orientation. Results suggest that the short forms of protean and boundaryless career attitude scales are reliable and valid in the Turkish context.

Evaluating the effect of boundaryless career attitude on internal and external self-perceived employability through learning goal orientation

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of boundaryless career attitude on internal and external self-perceived employability through learning goal orientation. Two hundred one bank employees was selected using multistage cluster sampling and data were analysed with the structural equation modelling. Validity of the scales was assessed using content and construct validity and their reliability were measured by Cronbach's alpha. Data analysis showed a positive relationship between boundaryless career attitude (values-driven attitude and self-directed career management) and internal and external self-perceived employability and learning goal orientation. Moreover, there is a positive relationship between learning goal orientation and internal and external employability. Learning goal orientation plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between boundaryless career attitude and internal and external employability.

Evaluating the Effect of boundaryless Career Attitude on Internal and External Self-Perceived Employability through Learning Goal Orientation

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of boundaryless career attitude on internal and external self-perceived employability through learning goal orientation. Two hundred one bank employees was selected using multistage cluster sampling and data were analysed with the structural equation modelling. Validity of the scales was assessed using content and construct validity and their reliability were measured by Cronbach's alpha. Data analysis showed a positive relationship between boundaryless career attitude (values-driven attitude and self-directed career management) and internal and external self-perceived employability and learning goal orientation. Moreover, there is a positive relationship between learning goal orientation and internal and external employability. Learning goal orientation plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between boundaryless career attitude and internal and external employability.

The Effects of Salesperson’ Self-directed Career Management on Firm’s Marketing Competitiveness Advantage

The Effects of Salesperson’ Self-directed Career Management on Firm’s Marketing Competitiveness Advantage

Self-directed career management and mobility: the risk of lock-in effects from person–job fit

Autonomy and fit with the job are important reasons why employees thrive at work, yet surprisingly little research has examined the implications this may have on how employees perceive their career opportunities, both within and outside the organization where they currently work. Drawing on self-determination theory, we propose that the more employees manage their career in a self-directed manner, the more likely they are to consider themselves to have good career opportunities both within and outside their current organization. However, we propose that, while good person–job fit may push an employee to see increasing opportunities within their current organization, it is equally likely to make the employee less inclined to see opportunities for career advancement outside the organization. Analyses on data gathered from a sample of 902 knowledge workers support our model. We conclude that person–job fit strongly influences the degree to which employees perceive opportunities for internal and external career mobility. The results have implications for research on self-directed career management, person–job fit, and the dynamics of the career mobility issue.

A cluster analysis of protean and boundaryless career orientations: Relationships with career competencies

Previous research on protean and boundaryless careers has been variable centred, testing the outcomes of the dimensions of protean and boundaryless careers separately. Following the career typology of Briscoe and Hall (2006), this study aimed to explore the combined effect of protean (self-directedness and values orientation) and boundaryless (psychological and physical mobility) career dimensions on various career competencies, including identity awareness, adaptability, career planning, proactive job search behaviour, and external networking behaviour. Using cluster analysis with a sample of 285 professionals and mid-level managers, five of the eight career profiles in Briscoe and Hall’s (2006) typology emerged: protean career architect, hired gun, solid citizen, the wanderer, and trapped/lost. Results showed that the most positive career competencies were associated with protean career architect. Additionally, it was found that higher levels of self-directed career management and psychological and physical mobility were not sufficient to enhance identity awareness when the values-driven orientation was lower.

Linking protean and boundaryless career with organizational commitment

PurposeDue to the changes in the market, the shift to proactive and self-developed career management is evident. It results in the emergence of contemporary career attitudes, namely, protean and boundaryless ones. Individuals with protean career (PC) and boundaryless career (BC) attitudes may be more inclined to switch jobs, which affect decreased organizational commitment. The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether PC and BC attitudes affect organizational commitment of young adults in finance sector.Design/methodology/approachThe data of 177 young Lithuanian adults from finance sector were collected in quantitative research.FindingsThe research results indicate that young adults in finance sector have contemporary career attitudes significantly expressed. The regression analysis findings show that affective commitment is positively predicted by self-directed career management and boundaryless mindset, and negatively predicted by values-driven career orientation and organizational mobility preference. Continuance commitment is negatively predicted by self-directed career management and organizational mobility preference.Originality/valueThis research is valuable as few if any studies cover contemporary career attitudes and organizational commitment of already working young adults in finance sector in a European country, namely, Lithuania.

Classifications of college students’ protean and boundaryless orientation to work

Increasingly, individuals navigate their own careers in self-directed (protean) and boundaryless contexts. These concepts have been applied to adult employees but have seen limited application with young adults. Therefore, 205 college students were assessed on the Protean and Boundaryless Career Attitudes scales (Briscoe, Hall, and DeMuth, 2006); i.e., self-directed career management, values-driven, boundaryless mindset, and organizational mobility preferences. Scale items were reworded to focus on college experience. Cluster analysis organized respondents into five distinct protean-boundaryless career types. Three types were similar to those hypothesized for adults, while two types were unique to our sample.

A contemporary justice perspective on dual ladders for R&D professionals

Research and development (R&D) professionals play a key role in companies' innovation performance. Whereas prior research has indicated the potential benefits of dual ladder career systems to retain and motivate R&D professionals, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the design properties of dual ladders that facilitate such positive effects. The purpose of this study is to address this research gap by exploring how organizations can design dual ladders to enhance R&D professionals' organizational commitment and career satisfaction. Drawing on contemporary justice theory, we point to two factors integral for the successful application of dual ladders: the perceived equality of the technical ladder and the transparency of the dual ladder. These factors are related to R&D professionals' organizational commitment and career satisfaction. Furthermore, this study investigates whether these relationships are moderated by R&D professionals' age and self-directedness in career management as well as firm size. The hypotheses are tested in a cross-level study with 9 heads of R&D departments, 32 human resource managers, and 382 R&D professionals from 32 organizations. Based on the analyses, this study finds positive relationships between the perceived equality and the transparency of the dual ladder with R&D professionals' organizational commitment and career satisfaction. In addition, the findings show that the effects of the perceived equality of the technical ladder on R&D professionals' career satisfaction are weaker at high levels of self-directed career management. The study contributes by developing theory on the consequences of dual ladders' design properties and moderating influences thereon. Thus, this research has implications for the literature on innovation management by expanding the knowledge on the interplay between career management and the human side of innovation.

Are you a protean talent? The influence of protean career attitude, learning-goal orientation and perceived internal and external employability

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between protean career attitude and perceived internal and external employability, along with the mediating effect of learning-goal orientation.Design/methodology/approach– Data were collected by distributing paper-based questionnaires to 527 workers in private banking sectors in Taiwan. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to examine the results of the relationships.Findings– The results supported the idea that protean career attitude is a significant antecedent of perceived internal and external employability. Protean talents with a higher degree of protean attitude toward value-driven career orientation and self-directed career management have an external employability that is greater than their internal employability. Learning-goal orientation fully mediated the effect of protean career attitude on perceived internal employability, but only partially mediated external employability.Practical implications– The findings can help human resource managers gain a better understanding of the use of an appropriate strategy to influence an employee’s perceived internal and external employability, which can increase the motivation and improve employer-employee relationships that contribute to organizational success and performance. Employees should recognize the increased importance of continuous learning with goal-setting in order to deal with changes at work.Originality/value– This paper empirically establishes the association between protean career attitude and perceived internal and external employability. The protean career concept may provide organizations with a valuable perspective in the evolution of careers. Valuable and protean talents place an emphasis on individuals’ core values, and while learning goals are meant to suit employer organizations, they may also establish opportunities that could cross-organizational boundaries.

Proactive career behavior of middle-aged worker for post-retirement career

Career transition of middle & young-old aged workers before their complete labor force withdrawal have received more attention in countries where aging society is progressing rapidly. Given that organizations and society may not be able to provide a full support for career transition of middle & young-old aged workers, self-directed career management of individual workers may be a key factor for the successful second career. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that many affect the proactive career behavior of middle & young-old aged workers for post-retirement career. The proactive career behavior of middle & young-old aged workers may be associated with various contexts(i.e. organizational factor, social factor) as well as individual factors. the study took multilevel approach to capture the nature of the work environment of the career middle & young-old age. At the individual level, core self evaluation, work ability and mentoring were considered as predictor variables of proactive career behavior. The study also examined the cross-level moderating effect of employment security at the organizational level. Data were collected from 127 middle & young-old aged workers in 33 organizations. The data were analyzed with Hierarchical Linear Model(HLM). The results of the study found that positive effect of core self evaluation, work ability and mentoring on proactive career behavior at the individual level. employment security moderated the relationships between pre-retirement proactive career behavior and the predictor variables(i.e. work ability, mentoring).

Hope as a Resource for Self-Directed Career Management: Investigating Mediating Effects on Proactive Career Behaviors and Life and Job Satisfaction

Hope is increasingly recognized as an important psychological resource for career development, yet the empirical research on its functioning in this domain is sparse. This paper describes an investigation of how dispositional hope is related to career decidedness, career planning, and career self-efficacy beliefs and whether these more proximal career attitudes mediate the effects of hope on proactive career behaviors, life satisfaction, and job satisfaction. This investigation was conducted using two independent samples of university students (N = 1,334) and working professionals (N = 233). The results showed that in both samples, hope was significantly related but empirically distinct from career variables. In both samples, hope had a direct effect on proactive career behaviors, partially mediated by more career planning. Hope had significant direct and indirect effects on life satisfaction among students, mediated by the three career development attitudes. Although hope was significantly correlated with job satisfaction among employees, no direct effect of hope was found in the mediation model, but an indirect effect through career decidedness was found. The results suggest that hope is an important resource for proactive career development at different career stages and that the positive relation of hope to life and job satisfaction can partially be attributed to the positive relation between hope and favorable career development attitudes.

Hope as a resource for self-directed career management

Hope is increasingly recognized as an important psychological resource for career development yet empirical research is on its functioning in this domain is sparse. The present paper investigated among two independent samples of working professionals (N=242) and university students (N=1,309) how dispositional hope in terms of agency and pathways thinking is related to career decidedness, planning, and self-efficacy beliefs and whether these more proximal career attitudes would mediate the effects of hope on proactive career behaviors. The results showed that within both samples both dimensions of hope were positively correlated with all career variables. However, the mediation model was only confirmed among students. The results suggest that hope-agency has stronger direct effects on proactive career behaviors than hope-pathways and that hope affects career development differently among students and employees.

The career resources model: an integrative framework for career counsellors

ABSTRACT Changes in the nature of work and organisations have led to an increased need for self-directed career management (SDCM). However, there is no consensus in the literature of what constitutes SDCM and many related concepts have been proposed. Integrating previous research across different conceptualisations of SDCM, the article proposes four critical career resources which are essential for career development in the modern context: human capital resources, social resources, psychological resources and identity resources. Implications of this framework for counselling practice are presented.

Self-Directed Career Management: International Perspectives

The symposium provides an international perspective on self- directed career management by applying insights from different theoretical frameworks, addressing self-directed career management in dif...