Navigating Work Career through Locus of Control and Job Satisfaction: The Mediation Role of Work Values Ethic

Abstract

This study examines navigating work careers through self-concept (locus of control and work values ethic) and job satisfaction within the postindustrial work environment of the 21st century. Career construction theory conceptualizes one’s career as a process of responding to a changing environment through self-concepts to more actively construct their careers. The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic further highlights the importance of individuals’ self-leading their work journeys. The study indicates that work values ethic is an important variable in further explaining the relationship between locus of control and job satisfaction in our sample. When the effect of work values ethic is removed, the association between locus of control and job satisfaction is insignificant. We expect this research to spur further efforts by individuals to improve their understanding of the intricacies among their intrapersonal traits, needs, and abilities to better navigate their work careers with application to newly defined workplaces as a result of COVID-19. Our results also inform the practice of career education and counseling.

Understanding Job Satisfaction and Its Influences in Nigerian Government Firms: A Systematic Literature Review

“…On the other hand, disgruntled employees deliberately attempt to avoid duty, resulting in a high percentage of absenteeism when they are present but attempt to sneak away from the job and not worry about organizational concerns, which has a negative impact on organizational productivity [34]. As a result, most organizations endeavour to understand their employees' feelings and opinions about their jobs [35]. For instance, IBM is one of the firms that conduct extensive field surveys to learn about employee attitudes toward their jobs [36].…”