Role of mentoring in career adaptability and ambiguity tolerance of potential Nigerian entrepreneurs: the moderating effect of age

Abstract

This study examines age differentials in the predictive role of entrepreneurial mentoring on career adaptability and ambiguity tolerance among potential Nigerian entrepreneurs. A cross-sectional survey was adopted in obtaining relevant data for the study. The study participants were graduates who were participating in the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in Nigeria. This population forms a catchment group for entrepreneurship programmes in Nigeria. Their ages ranged from 19 to 30 years old; with 780 being male and 846 being female. Results showed that the interaction term of age and mentoring produced significant effect (B = .174; p < .05) and accounted for a significant increase in career adaptability (ΔR 2 = 0.4%; p < .05). The results imply that the effects of entrepreneurial mentoring on career adaptability were significant among both younger and older graduates; with a stronger effect being observed among the former (B = .23, CI = .09 to .17) than the latter (B = .01, CI = .17 to .24). However, age did not moderate the effect of mentoring on ambiguity tolerance (B = .033; p > .05). These results buttress appeals for incorporating adaptive mentorship models that cater for contextual factors (such as age differences) in entrepreneurship education aimed at enhancing specific modules of career adaptability and other important entrepreneurial traits.

Entrepreneurial Intention of University Graduates of Bangladesh: Looking for New Economic Opportunities

“…Finally, self-efficacy, in turn, has a direct and positive effect on entrepreneurial intention (H4). This result is supported by extant literature [45,9,64,29,10,56]. The work reveals that one's belief and trust in his capabilities and performance positively motivate him to become an entrepreneur.…”

“…Career adaptability consists of psychosocial resources, namely career concern, control, curiosity, and confidence that support in managing professional changes and personal distress [57]. It assists in deciding and designing an individual's career based on the goals and choices considering the emotional and environmental dimensions [64]. Career adaptability is also considered as a self-managed skill [64], which is one of the prerequisite attributes for establishing a new venture and continuing its existence for the sustainable development of an enterprise [65].…”

“…It assists in deciding and designing an individual's career based on the goals and choices considering the emotional and environmental dimensions [64]. Career adaptability is also considered as a self-managed skill [64], which is one of the prerequisite attributes for establishing a new venture and continuing its existence for the sustainable development of an enterprise [65]. Previous studies acknowledge career adaptability has a positive association with and a direct influence on entrepreneurial intention [64].…”

“…Career adaptability is also considered as a self-managed skill [64], which is one of the prerequisite attributes for establishing a new venture and continuing its existence for the sustainable development of an enterprise [65]. Previous studies acknowledge career adaptability has a positive association with and a direct influence on entrepreneurial intention [64]. Similarly, it is positively influential in strengthening entrepreneurial development, documented in the literature of this area of study [55].…”

Agripreneurship and Agricultural Labour Market: Agripreneurial Intentions among Undergraduate Students in Ondo State, NigeriaAgripreneurship and Agricultural Labour Market: Agripreneurial Intentions among Undergraduate Students in Ondo State, Nigeria

“…Therefore, students who are majoring in Agriculture, if well mentored, can be inclined to embrace agripreneurship. Furthermore, [57] found strong reasons to incorporate "adaptive mentorship models that cater for contextual factors in entrepreneurship education aimed at enhancing specific modules of career adaptability and other important entrepreneurial traits". This approach has the potentials to improve students' interest in entrepreneurship and the quest to create employment on their own.…”