The mediating role of perceived employability in the relationship between core self-evaluations and job search behaviour

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of perceived employability in the relationship between core self-evaluations (CSEs) and job search behaviour (preparatory and active job search). Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional survey data were obtained among a sample of 254 employed and unemployed graduate students from a university in Southeast Nigeria. Findings – Results of the hierarchical multiple regression show that CSEs was significantly and positively associated with only preparatory job search behaviour but not active job search behaviour. CSEs was positively associated with perceived employability. Perceived employability was positively associated with the preparatory job search but not active job search. Perceived employability also mediated the relationship between CSEs and preparatory job search but failed to mediate the relationship between CSEs and active job search. Research limitations/implications – The study makes important contribution to the literature on job search by augmenting our understanding on the mechanism that govern core self-evaluation and job search behaviour relationship. Practical implications – Human resources practitioners can use the insights of the present study in understanding aspects of jobseekers’ personality and perception that may be relevant in job search behaviour. The study has also implications for career development practice especially in the areas of counselling of job seekers in environments where there is high level of unemployment. Originality/value – There has been rarely any previous attempt at investigating the possibility that the relationship between CSEs and job search behaviour is mediated by perceived employability.

Searching for a Job on the Contemporary Labour Market: The Role of Dispositional Employability

“…This is consistent with the findings of previous studies demonstrating that subjective evaluations of one's employment chances fully mediated the effects of personal characteristics on job search behaviour (e.g. Chen & Lim, 2012;Onyishi et al, 2015). Control variables are omitted due to the clarity.…”

“…Third, the present study encompasses two related, yet conceptually different notions of employability-dispositional (Fugate, 2006) and perceived employability approaches (De Cuyper et al, 2012a) and thus enables empirical testing of the most recent employability models (e.g., Vanhercke et al, 2014). Fourth, while both conceptualizations of employability have thus far been predominantly studied in samples of employed individuals, the present study supplements the few existing studies that investigate either dispositional (i.e., Koen, Klehe, & Van Vianen, 2013;McArdle et al, 2007) or perceived employability (i.e., Chen & Lim, 2012;Onyishi et al, 2015) among unemployed persons. Fifth, in contrast to the majority of previous studies examining job search antecedents, the present study was conducted in an economy characterized by high unemployment rates (19.5% or 333,249 unemployed registered persons), a small number of job vacancies (12,175) and consequently, low work mobility (The Croatian Employment Service, 2015a).…”

Are freelancers a breed apart? The role of protean and boundaryless career attitudes in employability and career success

“…In addition, we found evidence for the hypothesised mediating effect of employability activities () and professional commitment () on the relationship between career attitudes and career success. Concerning employability, previous research already spoke in favour of its mediating effect in the relationships between self‐efficacy and career satisfaction (Dacre Pool & Qualter, ) and between core self‐evaluations and job search behaviours (Onyishi, Enwereuzor, Ituma, & Omenma, ). This confirms and reinforces the role that employability activities play, both directly and indirectly, in achieving a broad array of positive career outcomes.…”

Impact of personal competencies and market value of type of occupation over objective employability and perceived career opportunities of young professionals

“…This is still an important object to study (Nazar & Van Der Heijden, 2012). Onishy, Enwereuzor, Ituma, & Tochukwu (2015) stated that personal resources as core self-evaluations has important effects in organizational behavior. Also, there is some evidence indicating that high core self-evaluations are related to high self-esteem, emotional stability, self-efficacy, and internal locus of control (Judge & Bono, 2001).…”