Sustainable Career Research Articles

Flexible to shift or transform: Effects of Covid-19 on the future anxiety of hospitality students

COVID-19 has represented a turning point for hospitality industry with enormous effects leading to a potential transformation. This study aims to identify the effects of this period on the pandemic evaluation and future considerations of hospitality students to suggest actions for decision-makers in hospitality education to motivate students into sustainable careers in the sector. The findings of the quantitative research report that students’ evaluations of the pandemic are explained by future anxiety and openness. Students with prior work experience have more negative evaluations of the pandemic. The findings of the qualitative research point out that students evaluate the pandemic period with a realistic and optimistic perspective and enhance their capabilities to adapt to changes, transform or shift to a relevant sector.

Effect of inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi on the production of native corn (Zea mays L.) in Valle de Santiago, Gto

The experiment was established from june-december 2022 in a randomised block design with three replications in experimental plot 1 of the Sustainable and Protected Agriculture Career of the Universidad Tecnológica del Suroeste de Guanajuato (UTSOE), located in the municipality of Valle de Santiago. The objective was to evaluate two varieties of native corn of the race harinoso de ocho (red and white) with inoculation with two commercial products containing mycorrhizal fungi (Rhizovibac® and Tec-myc®), a chemical fertilisation based on INIFAP (2015), of 80-40-00 and a fertilisation with vermicompost at a dose of approximately 100 g/mata. The experimental unit consisted of three furrows of eight metres long and 75 cm apart, where root volume - weight and yield were evaluated. Significant differences were found in Fisher's LSD (p≤0.05) for the variables of root volume and weight in the white maize 128.3 cm3 above the mean 72.1 cm3 with chemical fertilisation; however, the criollo corn was the one that obtained the best yield. It can be identified that there is a high relationship between root volume and root weight. In the case of the treatments of the commercial products used in the white corn with Tecmyc®, the lowest root volume - weight and the lowest yield was obtained with the use of Rhizovibac® in comparison with the red corn.

Career Development Strategies to Improve Human Resources Sustainability in Organisations

In the era of globalisation and increasingly fierce competition, the sustainability of human resources (HR) becomes very important for the success of the organisation. Organisations that have effective career development strategies are able to retain quality human resources, increase productivity, and create a competitive advantage. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyse effective career development strategies in improving HR sustainability in organisations. The current research type is qualitative. Data collection techniques include listening and recording important information to conduct data analysis through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The study results show that in the context of improving HR sustainability in organisations, career development strategies play a very important role. In the above, we have discussed effective and relevant career development strategies by accommodating individual personality preferences and ensuring a match between the individual, the work environment, and organisational values. Holland's Career Choice Theory provides valuable insights in designing sustainable career development strategies.

The moderating role of different forms of empathy on the association between performing animal euthanasia and career sustainability

AbstractVeterinarian work may take an emotional toll on practitioners and their mental health, potentially driving premature exit from the profession. Performing animal euthanasia is frequently identified as a potential risk factor for sustainable mental health. Yet, research has demonstrated mixed results between euthanasia performance and detrimental mental health outcomes, suggesting the potential for factors that moderate this association. In this three‐wave longitudinal survey study, including 110 currently practicing veterinarians (88% female), we examined whether the type of empathy experienced by these practitioners plays a role in the association between performing animal euthanasia and career sustainability. Two types of empathy, cognitive empathy (i.e., understanding the affective experience of another) and emotional empathy (i.e., experiencing another's emotional state) were assessed. Job disengagement at 12 months was predicted by the interaction between animal euthanasia frequency in the past 12 months and emotional empathy in the past 6 or 12 months. Perceived resilience at 12 months was predicted by the interaction between animal euthanasia frequency in the past 12 months and emotional empathy a year prior. For these outcomes, the effects of performing animal euthanasia on career sustainability were moderated by emotional empathy. Higher levels of emotional empathy were associated with worse outcomes. Veterinarians may seek to understand the affective experience of the client or patient and provide compassionate care in a sustainable way. However, they should do so while avoiding the costs of emotional empathy. This work has implications for veterinarian training to support career sustainability.

Views from Australian osteopaths and industry stakeholders about the profession: A qualitative study

BackgroundThe future health and longevity of the osteopathy profession relies heavily on its practitioners and industry stakeholders to support it. Possessing a deeper understanding of practitioner and stakeholder views of the profession may provide crucial insights into the wellbeing of the workforce and their perceived skills and expertise in the wider healthcare landscape. ObjectiveTo provide a review of current and emerging attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of Australian osteopaths and supportive external stakeholders towards the profession. MethodsA qualitative approach using grounded theory explored the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of Australian osteopaths and supportive external stakeholders. Purposive sampling identified 18 practitioners (Victoria 10, Western Australia 5, and New South Wales 3) and 6 external stakeholders. All participated in semi-structured focus groups. A constant comparative method followed data collection whereby repeated ideas formed the extraction of the emerging themes presented. ResultsCentral themes for each group included: 1) practitioner wellbeing and 2) osteopathic skills and expertise. Subthemes included: 1) career sustainability and longevity for practitioners, and 2) osteopathy within the broader context of allied healthcare in Australia. ConclusionThreats to practitioner wellbeing included lack of early career support, limited career pathways, and uncertainty surrounding the future of the profession. External stakeholders echoed similar concerns regarding the future of the profession, acknowledging whilst osteopathy may play a sustainable role in managing the health and wellbeing of Australians, their skills and expertise are not unique nor exclusive to the profession, are under-evidenced, and undervalued by other healthcare professionals. Fostering a healthy and fulfilled workforce lies in securing a sustainable role for the profession by addressing these limitations.

Self-Application of the CCP Model among Socio-Labor Counseling Professionals: Evaluation of the Impact on Their Careers and Social Sustainability Actions

This study evaluates the impact of the professional career construction model (CCP) on the professional practice of counselors and the social sustainability actions put into play in their professional performance. A mixed methodology featuring a predominantly qualitative approach is used to examine the employment situation and professional development of this group. Forty-eight socio-labor counselors from the autonomous community of Andalusia (Spain) participated in the self-application of the CCP model. Subsequently, a questionnaire was administered via a discussion group. The data analysis combines descriptive and qualitative procedures with the support of computer software. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis and triangulation techniques are used as methodological integration strategies. The resulting data are discussed, later presenting a series of limitations and prospective of the study. Relevant conclusions are provided about the impact of the CCP model on the professional careers of counselors based on their satisfaction with the self-application of the model, their career progression and employment status, and their self-perceptions of the social impact of their counseling careers. These conclusions highlight the implications of the study regarding promoting the sustainable careers of socio-labor counselors, enhancing their initial and continuous training, and facilitating their occupational actions in a complex and constantly changing society.

What Research Should Vocational Education Colleges Conduct? An Empirical Study Using Data Envelopment Analysis

Higher vocational education (HVE) aims to cultivate high-quality technical and skilled talents so that the educated have the professional ethics, scientific culture, professional knowledge, technical skills, and other comprehensive professional qualities and action abilities required for engaging in a specific profession to achieve sustainable career development. Two problems related to critical management strategies for sustainable development activated this study: Should HVE colleges conduct academic research? What types of research should HVE colleges do? This article attempts to empirically study the second question while affirming the answer to the first question. HVE colleges focus on talent cultivation, which does not mean they will never engage in academic research. The key is to decide and evaluate the research types for HVE colleges. First, a survey was conducted on the current status and practical needs of HVE colleges globally and especially in China, and it was found that there is a mutually beneficial relationship between teaching and research in HVE colleges. Then, the positioning of HVE colleges for academic research was analyzed from three aspects—research type, performance assessment, and combination comparison—and three types of research positioning were proposed, i.e., applied research type, educational research type, and comprehensive research type. Then, three assessment index systems of academic research positioning types were designed from two input and output levels, and a research performance assessment model was established using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Finally, taking 22 vocational colleges in Shanghai as examples, a comparative study was conducted on the assessment results of three research types to determine the research types of different HVE colleges. Based on their educational history and academic research resources, HVE colleges can choose their research types. The HVE management department can guide HVE colleges to conduct differentiated academic research and support teaching and talent cultivation through input–output analysis for sustainable educational and teacher development.

Exploring the impact of an industrial placement year on students' competency development: a three-cohort, longitudinal study

PurposeDrawing on human capital theory and sustainable career theory, this paper aims to explore the impact of undertaking an industrial placement on the “Great Eight” competencies as perceived by university students and line managers.Design/methodology/approach618 students and their line managers across three cohorts (pre-COVID-19) took part in a longitudinal quantitative study. Students completed a three-wave questionnaire at the placement's start, middle, and end. Line managers completed the questionnaire during waves two and three to offer 360-degree feedback. Descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVA were applied to the dataset.FindingsThe impacts of undertaking a placement were highly variable for different competencies at the sub-scale level, although at the eight-scale level, the nuance was less pronounced. However, students self-perceived that all eight competencies increased between the start and end of the placement. Surprisingly, line managers perceived students' competencies to be higher than perceived by the students.Originality/valueThe value of undertaking a placement is often poorly measured (e.g. satisfaction) rather than competency-based outcomes, which can lead to conclusions that are overly simplistic and difficult to use in practice. Theoretically, this study advances understanding of human capital theory and sustainable career theory by understanding the role placements can play in developing human capital and preparing university students for sustainable careers. Practically, the findings of this study can help to close the university–industry skills gap by informing curriculum and placement scheme design and supporting students to acquire personal resources and signal these to prospective employers as an antecedent to career sustainability.

Inclusive leadership and employee innovative behavior: moderated by creative self-efficacy

In the academic and other sectors, Employee Innovative Behavior (EIB) is a significant problem. Employees in the e-commerce sector are experiencing more job instability as a result of the growing uncertainty imposed by COVID-19. Career sustainability (CS) is now in concern. Creative self-efficacy (CSE) is a person's confidence in their capacity to create. CSE creative thinking and problem-solving, which may lead to professional success and innovation. Additionally, CS must be taken into account because one's perception of the sustainability of a career affects their propensity to innovate. Based on the theory of job demands and resources (JDR), this study uses a combination of theoretical construction and quantitative analysis to examine how creative self-efficacy influences the relationship between inclusive leadership and employee innovation behavior in China's e-commerce sector, particularly livestream e-commerce. Employee perceptions of occupational sustainability were examined for their potential mediating effects. This research examined the role of CSE as a mediator in the aforementioned connections as well as the effect of CS leadership, which is EIB, on inclusive leadership (IL). The construct validity and path connections are examined by structural equation modeling. The findings demonstrate that the risk created by the COVID-19 epidemic for China's live streaming e-commerce, IL can only assist the translation of employment assets into workplace EIB when employees perceive CS. The findings demonstrated that IL enhances EIB through CSE. The research provides a theoretical basis for IL and EIB and conceptually overcomes the gap. We guide companies and executives on how to actually give workers tools at work that will support their CS while advancing their EIB.

The threat of robots to career sustainability, and the pivotal role of knowledge management and human capital

With the remarkable progress made in the field of artificial intelligence, there is growing concern about the possibility of robots posing a threat or danger to humans and the robot is crowding more and more people out of their jobs. The epidemic period also witnessed an unparalleled increase in the demand for technology products. This empirical study investigates several aspects of Knowledge Management (KM), Human Capital (HC) and Career Sustainability (CS): first, the relationship between KM dimensions, namely Technical, Cultural, Human and Structural Knowledge Management (TKM, CKM, HKM, SKM) on HC and CS in Malaysian public universities; and, secondly, the moderating role of HC on the relationship between these KM dimensions and CS. A research model was developed to test these hypothesized relationships. The model was tested on data from 251 lecturers, employing structural equation modelling PLS-SEM. The results show that TKM, CKM and HKM, but not SKM, have a significant impact on CS. HC moderates the relationship between TKM, SKM and HKM and CS but not CKM. The results provide useful insights for researchers and academics, outlining the practical and theoretical implications and future research.

The unintended detrimental effects of pursuing a professional vocation: The case of veterinarians.

Pursuing one's life calling can be personally fulfilling and professionally rewarding, but it also requires sacrifice. We provide evidence of a strong vocational drive using veterinary students as a case study and find that they willingly contribute higher monetary donations for helping animals relative to students in other fields. We also find a significant reduction in the cognitive performance of veterinarian students when exposed to an animal-in-need manipulation. The performance of non-veterinary students in the cognitive task is unaffected by the manipulation. Our results highlight the need for programs to address the economic, financial, and mental health well-being of students and professionals to promote sustainable vocational career commitment. "You owe it to all of us to get on with what you're good at." W.H. Auden.

The EMN Salary Survey

The EMN Salary Survey

Future of work – apprehensions and excitement of management graduates

PurposeThe study explores the perceptions of graduates on their employability and future of work, in light of the challenges thrown upon by new vicissitudes in the work environment. The study intends to assess the preparedness of management graduates in facing the challenges and uncertainties of the actual job market.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured and informal interviews with 65 management graduates from UK, Canada, Italy and India. The thematic analysis uncovered the concerns and areas to develop for management graduates regarding their future employability perceptions.FindingsThe authors benefited from a unique opportunity to capture the views and experience of graduates who are undergoing management education during this ambiguous period. Three major themes were developed on how to develop oneself for an ambiguous future of work which includes Psychological strengths, Skill enhancement and Future mindset. The study also unearthed the major focus areas for better employability from a graduate perspective.Practical implicationsPractical contribution comes from strategies to prepare university graduates for sustainable careers. Study hints at the importance of work experience, adaptability and skill enhancement in meeting the challenges of the future.Originality/valueFrom a global approach this is one among the first studies to look into the graduate perspective of their preparedness for future work.

Challenges in Effective Implementation of Saudization Policy in the Restaurant Sector

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is one of the countries that heavily rely on expatriates, especially in the private sector, which includes restaurants. However, to overcome the increasing rate of unemployment, the government has adopted new quota up to 50% Saudi Arabian people in restaurants. Notwithstanding, Saudization has been more successful in public sectors than it has been in the private sector. The current study undertook a sequential mixed method approach, starting with a questionnaire for newly joined local workers in restaurants and supplemented with in-depth interviews with managers. The main purpose of the questionnaire was to understand how new local workers perceive their new jobs/careers in restaurants, while the managers’ interviews explored the challenges encountered in the effective implementation of the new quota in restaurants. The results of questionnaire showed that local workers had negative perceptions about their new jobs/careers. They perceived it as a “bad” and “disrespected” job and reported overall dissatisfaction with their new job. Newly joined local workers consider restaurant positions as a “transit job”, with no intention to continue it as a career or even recommend it to their friends and family members. Managers, on the other hand, identified six main challenges that are associated with this, albeit they are linked to the absence of a clear strategic framework and executive plan by the government for the effective implementation of the new quota. The plan has to clearly focus on the employability and mitigate the wrong assumption about working in restaurants due to cultural and social impacts. The plan should consider the needs of both employers and employees to promote sustainable career among local workers, which ultimately influences the sustainable development of restaurants in the KSA.

Music career and sustainability: the strategies of a hiplife musician

ABSTRACT Despite the challenges musicians face in different music cultures, the question of how musicians sustain their careers is often not highlighted in music and sustainability studies. This article focuses on the strategies adopted by Okyeame Kwame (OK), one of the pioneers of hiplife music, to sustain his career in the Ghanaian music industry. From an ecology of music viewpoint and twelve months of ethnographic fieldwork in Ghana, this article explores the factors influencing hiplife and musicians within the Ghanaian music industry to enable music career sustenance. This article argues that sustainable music careers are linked to and necessary for the sustainability of music cultures. It also contributes to the ongoing discourse on music and sustainability, particularly about music careers. Overall, the article offers lessons to help musicians and ethnomusicologists explore career sustainability strategies in various contexts and work towards a theory and practice of music career sustainability.

Developing sustainable career paths as teacher-researchers in a changing academic landscape: A tale of two EFL teachers in China.

The study aimed to investigate how two English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers integrated their teacher and researcher identities to achieve sustainable professional growth in the context of a changing academic landscape. Using purposive sampling, two EFL teachers from a non-elite public university in China were selected as participants for this qualitative study. Data were collected and triangulated from multiple sources, including semi-structured interviews, narrative frames, document analysis, and the academic profiles of the participants. A qualitative, inductive thematic approach was employed in the data analysis. Adopting "identity" as an analytical lens, this study examined how the two participants underwent different identity trajectories to develop into teacher-researchers under the influence of their personal values and beliefs, as well as contextual factors such as institutional research policy. Throughout their identity construction process, the two participants encountered identity deficits and tensions between multiple professional roles, leading to their struggles with identity and complex identity (re)construction. While the participants underwent interactions between various forms of identity throughout their careers, they enacted agency to take actions and draw on available resources to address their identity deficits and conflicts, ultimately resolving them by pursuing a sustainable career path as teacher-researchers in their situated socio-institutional environment. Despite their different identity trajectories, the construction of the participants' teacher-researcher identity facilitated their continuing professional development. This study contributes to our understanding of the complexities of EFL teachers' identity (re)construction when seeking to establish sustainable career paths in a changing academic context. This study also has implications for both EFL academics and university management on how to assist EFL teachers in integrating teacher and researcher identities to achieve sustainable professional development in higher education.

Emotional Intelligence in Autistic Adults: A Review with Considerations for Employers

Emotional intelligence is important within the workplace, as indicated by the multitude of positive workplace outcomes associated with heightened emotional intelligence. Research has demonstrated that many autistic individuals exhibit lower levels of trait emotional intelligence, potentially putting them at a disadvantage within the workplace. Emotional intelligence, however, is multifaceted, yet research on how autistic adults fare in these facets separately has remained siloed. All four facets are important and should be considered alongside one another to allow for a complete understanding of emotional intelligence and autism. The purpose of this paper is to review existing research with respect to how autistic individuals fare for each of the four facets of emotional intelligence, namely, perceiving emotions, using emotions to facilitate thought, understanding emotions, and managing emotions. This review is primarily intended to be descriptive and not prescriptive, though areas for consideration within the workplace—particularly regarding how autistic individuals may experience difficulties in meeting the necessary demands for sustainable career success—based on the reported findings are provided. Given this and the recognition that neurodiversity is an important component of organizational diversity, this paper is important for both individual employment sustainability efforts and organizational sustainable competitive advantage efforts.

Organizing School-to-Work Transition Research from a Sustainable Career Perspective: A Review and Research Agenda

Abstract A successful school-to-work transition is crucial to an individual’s initial entry into the labor market and overall sustainable career development. Scholarly interest in how emerging adults (i.e., late teens to late 20s) can achieve a successful transition to work has grown considerably, stemming from various disciplines, such as educational sciences, psychology, sociology, and economics. These disciplines have all produced valuable knowledge, yet, they mostly exist as separate silos, without clear integration. To create an overview of the literature, we systematically reviewed school-to-work transition literature and used a sustainable career lens to organize it. Based on 365 articles from the past 28 years, our review findings show that there are different conceptual and theoretical approaches to studying school-to-work transitions. We subsequently organize these perspectives into antecedents categorized into the sustainable career perspective’s person, context, and time dimensions. Moreover, we categorize school-to-work transition outcomes as proximal and more distal outcomes related to happiness, health, and productivity indicators. Finally, we reflect on the implications of our review article and suggest ways forward for conceptualizing and theorizing modern school-to-work transitions, along with an agenda for future research.

What Generation Z needs: the role of project-based organizations in creating career sustainability

PurposeAs the youngest generation – Generation Z (Gen Z) – enters the workplace, there is a growing interest in this cohort's career needs and expectations. This paper explores the under-researched topic of Gen Z project management (Gen Z PM) professionals. In addition to shedding light on the factors that positively affect Gen Z PM professionals' early career-development phase, this research aims to identify specific organization-led practices that can foster sustainable early PM careers and so achieve greater workforce sustainability.Design/methodology/approachThrough the lens of the resource-based view (RBV), Gen Z PM professionals are considered critical resources that can help ensure workforce sustainability in project-based organizations (PBOs). Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 25 Gen Z PM professionals in Australia to explore the professionals' early career experiences and the organizational-support initiatives that facilitate positive experiences. The results were analyzed using thematic analysis.FindingsThe results revealed that most Gen Z PMs experienced many challenges and a lack of support during their early career phase: Gen Z value (1) mentoring, (2) time for training and development, (3) showing support and guidance, (4) understand skill-gaps and (5) reasonable workloads. Through catering to these needs, PBOs can ensure better career sustainability for their young Gen Z talent and, therefore, greater workforce sustainability for the project profession.Originality/valueAccording to the career sustainability lens, PBOs play a significant role in ensuring that their valuable young PM talent are supported and retained in the profession. This research sheds light on what Gen Z PM professionals value in their early careers, which guided recommendations to better support this new generation of project professionals.

Next generation employability and career sustainability in the hospitality industry 5.0

PurposeWith an industry 5.0 revolution taking place in the hospitality industry, a shift from manual to cognitive labor is anticipated, characterized by greater sustainability, resilience and a human-centric approach. In this regard, hospitality educators' ability and willingness to teach novel topics such as automation at work, upskilling of employees, man-machine interaction and service robots have become more important than ever. This study aims to interpret the perspectives of hospitality educators about bridging the gap in the employability skills of (next-gen) hospitality graduates and the concerns relating to career sustainability in times of transition.Design/methodology/approachA case study method was used given the novelty of the topic in a developing country like India. A qualitative survey with open-ended questions, is employed to understand the viewpoints of Indian hospitality educators, including those with more than 15 years of teaching experience. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 hospitality educators to reach the theoretical saturation point. MAXQDA software was used to analyze the qualitative data collected in the study.FindingsThe findings reveal the challenges and motivations of hospitality educators in adapting to frequently changing business environments. In doing so, it sheds light on the methods employed to create a generation of hospitality graduates aligned with the changing dynamics of the industry.Originality/valueThe paper presents the viewpoints of hospitality educators in India in relation to a futuristic approach to next-gen employability and career sustainability. Whilst numerous studies have focused on the role of robots and artificial intelligence in replacing the human component of the service environment, the concept of people working alongside advanced technologies is fairly new and needs to be fully explored.