Proactive career self-management: exploring links among psychosocial career attributes and adaptability resources

Abstract

The study explored whether the positive links between individuals’ psychosocial career attributes and career adaptability resources empirically represent the characteristics associated with proactive career self-management behaviour. A cross-sectional convenience sample of Black and White (N = 248) working adults participated in the study. The redundancy analysis of the canonical correlation analysis indicated positive links between the career attributes of behavioural adaptability, career directedness, self-esteem, self/other skills, social connectivity, and career purpose, and the four career adaptability resources of career concern, career control, career curiosity, and career confidence. The common synthetic themes that emerged from the positive associations described the characteristics of proactive career self-management behaviour, including (1) self-efficacious adaptive goal-directed behaviour, (2) proactive psychosocial career engagement behaviour, and (3) career resilience. The three dimensions offer considerations for practitioners involved in career development and counselling discussions with employees who need to develop personal agency in their career development and management.

Psychological Capital and Career Outcomes among Final Year University Students: the Mediating Role of Career Engagement and Perceived Employability

“…Analogized with the constructs of the present study, this assumption indicates that psychological capital facilitates career actions (career engagement) and goals (employability, STWT, and success). In line with the emphasis of adaptability and career self-management, the attributes similar to resources that constitute psychological capital are linked to career engagement behaviors and employability (Coetzee and Schreuder 2017) as well as job search intentions and behaviors (Lim et al 2016); suggesting that such resources are also important for STWT and career satisfaction. The next paragraphs explain these career outcomes in the context of the present study.…”

The effectiveness of social cognitive career theory on career decision making

“…SCCT predicts that effective career decision making depends on a complex combination of general abilities and values, concrete career decision-making skills, contextual factors, and cognitive, motivational processes related to career decision making (Randolph, 2019). SCCT integrates the behaviours and strategies that individuals use to manage their career development (Thompson et al, 2017), emphasizing the concept of development and adaptive behavior (Dutta et al, 2015;Lent et al, 2019), namely on resources, competencies and behaviour that strengthens the individual, the capacity for self-regulation in career management (Coetzee & Schreuder, 2018;Tolentino et al, 2014).…”

Illustrating school-to-work transition through drawings: An exploratory study with a sample of South African students

“…We note three gaps. Firstly, there is a need for an increased understanding regarding student transition into the labour market, especially challenges such as high unemployment (Coetzee & Schreuder, 2018;Harry et al, 2018;Scott, 2018). Gedye and Beaumont (2018) noted that there appears to be an empirical overlook into the student perceptions on aspects of work readiness and transition into the labour market.…”

“…Challenges exist however, as qualifications from such institutions of higher learning are noted as not being a guarantee in producing such capital (Shivoro et al, 2018;Walker & Fongwa, 2017). The expectation is that as part of university enrolment students are expected to be equipped with the right set of employability attributes (Chinyamurindi, Rukuni, & Marembo, 2017;Coetzee & Schreuder, 2018;Shivoro et al, 2018). The reality is the opposite, as institutions of higher learning are criticised for mostly placing emphasis on theoretical knowledge (Council on Higher Education, 2016;Tadesse, Manathunga, & Gillies, 2018) and in some cases placing little or no emphasis on the community focus and career guidance.…”