Exploring the Perceived Career Success of Staff in a South African Science and Engineering Company

This study explored the core themes underlying individuals’ perceptions of their career success with the view to inform retention practices. The participants were a convenience sample of 207 employees (63% Blacks; 60% males) within a South African science and engineering company. Data were gathered by using a quantitative survey approach and posing an open-ended question to the participants regarding their perceived career success. The data were thematically analysed by using the Atlas.ti version 6 computer-aided qualitative data analysis software. Findings suggest that self-perceptions of career success are multifaceted, including learning and development; skills, experience and competence; career transitions and advancement; job content; contributing to a larger community; goal achievement; helping others; rewards and recognition; and work-life balance. Individuals’ inner definitions of career success could inform retention strategies in the science and engineering field focused on their career development, career wellbeing and satisfaction.     

无边界职业生涯取向与青年员工职业成功：职业胜任力的中介作用

基于职业成功的胜任力模型,探讨无边界职业生涯取向与青年员工职业成功的关系。采用两阶段（two-wave）问卷调查法,以385名35岁以下的年轻员工为样本进行研究。结果表明,无边界思维模式与青年员工的主观职业成功、客观职业成功均显著地正相关,职业胜任力在其中起完全中介作用;组织流动性偏好与青年员工的主观职业成功、客观职业成功均显著地负相关,职业胜任力在其中起中介作用。研究证实了无边界职业生涯取向对青年员工职业成功的“双刃剑”效应,为青年员工的职业生涯管理提供了重要启示。     

Synchronous and time-lagged effects between occupational self-efficacy and objective and subjective career success: Findings from a four-wave and 9-year longitudinal study

We integrated research on the dimensionality of career success into social-cognitive career theory and explored the positive feedback loop between occupational self-efficacy and objective and subjective career success over time (self-efficacy → objective success → subjective success → self-efficacy). Furthermore, we theoretically accounted for synchronous and time-lagged effects, as well as indirect reciprocity between the variables. We tested the proposed model by means of longitudinal structural equation modeling in a 9-year four-wave panel design, by applying a model comparison approach and indirect effect analyses (N = 608 professionals). The findings supported the proposed positive feedback loop between occupational self-efficacy and career success. Supporting our time-based reasoning, the findings showed that unfolding effects between occupational self-efficacy and objective career success take more time (i.e., time-lagged or over time) than unfolding effects between objective and subjective career success, as well as between subjective career success and occupational self-efficacy (i.e., synchronous or concurrently). Indirect effects of past on future occupational self-efficacy via objective and subjective career success were significant, providing support for an indirect reciprocity model. Results are discussed with respect to extensions of social-cognitive career theory and occupational self-efficacy development over time.     

The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of two subjective career success instruments

This study investigated the psychometric properties of two subjective career success instruments within the South African context: Perceived Career Success (PCSS: Gattiker &; Larwood, 1986 Gattiker, U. E., &; Larwood, L. (1986). Subjective career success: A study of managers and support personnel. Journal of Business and Psychology, 1(2), 78–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01018805[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) and Life Success Measures Scale (LSMS: Parker &; Chusmir, 1992 Parker, B., &; Chusmir, L. H. (1992). Development and validation of a life-success measures scale. Psychological Reports, 70(2), 627–637. http://dx.doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1992.70.2.627[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Data were collected via a convenient sample of 708 South African Police Services (SAPS) personnel (females = 36.8%; Sotho language = 62.50%). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on both instruments, followed by confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). Both instruments showed acceptable construct validity and reliability of scores.     

Professionals' Use of Different Mentor Sources at Various Career Stages: Implications for Career Success

Abstract

The authors investigated the various sources of mentors used by professionals, how these sources influenced both objective and subjective career success, and whether the participants used different sources of mentors at different stages of their careers. According to data from 430 faculty members at 2 U.S. research institutions, assistant professors with mentors in their professions, associate professors with mentors outside the work place, and professors with mentors within their organizations had the highest levels of objective career success. Assistant professors with multiple sources of mentors yielded significantly higher levels of both objective and subjective career success than did those with single sources or no mentor. If one links professorial rank to career stage, the results suggest that the participants used different sources of mentors at different stages of their careers.     

Faut-il investir dans le capital psychologique pour réussir sa carrière ?

Today, to succeed in his professional career, the individual must acquire new career competencies. If the literature shows that the employee must develop his human capital (knowing-how) as well as his social capital (knowing-whom), a new form of capital is now receiving more and more attention. This research aims to examine the impact of psychological capital on career success. We opted for a quantitative approach applied to 235 Tunisian employees. Structural equations analyses with the partial least squares approach (PLS) allowed us to confirm the determining role of psychological capital in both objective and subjective success. Furthermore, the results indicate that the relationship between psychological capital and subjective career success is partially mediated by objective career success. In addition, the effect of psychological capital on objective success appears to be greater for men than for women.     

易变职业生涯定向：研究回顾与展望

当代职业环境中,易变职业生涯定向(protean career orientation, PCO)对职业发展具有重要的意义,已经成为职业生涯研究领域的重要议题。从概念本质上而言,PCO是个人通过对职业生涯进行自主管理来实现主观职业成功的一种倾向。本文在系统地介绍PCO概念以及与其他相关概念进行辨析的基础上,对其结构维度与测量、影响因素和效果进行了综述。最后,针对当前研究的不足,对未来研究方向进行了探讨,以期对职业生涯管理领域的研究与实践提供新的思路。     

The nature, prevalence and correlates of generativity among men in middle career

Multiple methods were used to explore the character, contexts, and correlates of generativity among 41 men aged 45–55. Generativity in the role of worker was unrelated to generativity in men’s roles as father, citizen and ‘leisurite’. Individuals who were generative in their work reported greater job satisfaction and subjective career success. These associations were stronger for generativity targeting societal well-being and fellow-workers’ growth than for creative/productive generativity. As some theorists have argued, therefore, nurturant forms of generativity may be more adaptive in mid/late career than other varieties, and more indicative of psychosocial maturity. The status of creativity/productivity within the generativity construct seems problematic. Our findings offer qualified support for McAdams and de St Aubin’s (McAdams, D.P., & de St Aubin, E. (1992). A theory of generativity and its assessment through self-report, behavioral acts, and narrative themes in autobiography. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 62 (6), 1003–1015) contention that generativity is expressed differentially in the domains of concern, commitment and action, and that the different relationships of these generativity domains to third variables can be interpreted in meaningful ways.     

心理资本对企业员工职业成功的影响：职业承诺的中介效应

采用问卷调查法,以265名企业员工为调查对象,在控制被试的人力资本及人口统计学变量之后,使用结构方程模型分析员工心理资本与职业承诺、职业成功的关系。结果发现：（1）心理资本对员工的职业承诺、职业成功有显著地预测作用;（2）职业承诺在心理资本与员工客观职业成功之间起部分中介作用;（3）职业承诺在心理资本与员工主观职业成功之间起完全中介作用。     

Work–family enrichment,job satisfaction,and work engagement: The mediating role of subjective career success

Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the possible indirect effect of subjective career success on the relationship between work–family enrichment and job satisfaction and work–family enrichment and work engagement. Method: A cross-sectional, quantitative research design approach was followed using a convenience sample (N = 334). Results: Results revealed that work–family enrichment was not only positively related to subjective career success, job satisfaction and work engagement, but also predictive of the mentioned constructs. Furthermore, subjective career success was found to indirectly effect the relationship between work–family enrichment and job satisfaction and work engagement. Conclusion: Using the resource-gain-development framework, new insights are provided into the processes and mechanisms relating to work–family enrichment. Our findings suggest that resources are creating positive affect in not only the work and career domains of employees, but also leading to more engaged and satisfied employees. (i.e., the indirect effect of subjective career success). Organisations can benefit when they enhance work environments (e.g., by providing relevant resources) to promote work–family enrichment and, by implication, subjective career success and positive work outcomes such as job satisfaction and work engagement.     

生涯适应力和员工离职意向的关系：职业生涯成功的作用

为了探讨生涯适应力对员工离职意向的作用机制,通过分析193名企业员工的问卷,采用Bootstrap法进行中介和调节分析,并采用Johnson-Neyman 法对职业满意度的调节效应进行量化分析。结果表明：（1）生涯适应力通过感知到的组织内职业竞争力负向作用离职意向,通过感知到的组织外职业竞争力正向作用离职意向;（2）职业满意度（主观生涯适应力）调节生涯适应力对离职意向的直接和间接影响。当职业满意度达到中等及以上水平时,生涯适应力的增大会直接减少离职意向,但间接的通过感知到的组织外职业竞争力增加离职意向。因此,提高员工的生涯适应力和职业满意度只能在一定程度上减少离职意向。     

Boundaries for career success? How work–home integration and perceived supervisor expectation affect careers

The necessity to actively manage the work–home boundaries has drastically increased. We postulate that work–home integration may affect individuals' subjective career success via its positive effects on work goal attainment and exhaustion. Furthermore, we study perceived supervisor expectation for employee work–home integration as a boundary condition. Our three-wave online survey with 371 employees showed support for the two hypothesized moderated mediation effects. Work–home integration preference is indirectly related to subjective career success: (1) positively via home-to-work transitions and work goal attainment and (2) negatively via home-to-work transitions and exhaustion. Perceived supervisor expectation constrained work–home integration preference's direct effect on home-to-work transitions and indirect effects on subjective career success. Exploratory analysis revealed that exhaustion negatively affected all career success dimensions, whereas work goal attainment was only related to some. Our results indicate that supervisor expectation can override the effect of employee's work–home integration preference on home-to-work transitions which have a double-edged sword effect on subjective career success. Our study contributes to integrating the careers and work–life interface literature and incorporating contextual factors. Furthermore, with the exploration of differential effects on subjective career success, we advance our understanding of this outcome's nomological network.     

Comparison of Traditional, Step-Ahead, and Peer Mentoring on Protégés' Support, Satisfaction, and Perceptions of Career Success: A Social Exchange Perspective

This study applied social exchange theory as a conceptual framework to examine the effectiveness of various types of mentors and mentor support on protégés' satisfaction with their mentors, jobs, and perceived career success. Participants were 142 ethnically diverse protégés in informal mentoring relationships. It was found that role modeling, reciprocity, and vocational support predicted protégés' satisfaction with their mentors. Vocational support was a significant predictor of protégés' job satisfaction and perceived career success. Protégés were more satisfied with, had higher job satisfaction, and reported that traditional mentors provided significantly more vocational and role modeling support than peer or step-ahead mentors.     

Job Characteristics That Influence the Career Success of Soldiers in the South African National Defence Force: An Analytical Review

Career success for solders is influenced by objective and subjective job qualities including their antecedents and mediators. This article considers the objective and subjective indicators of career success in the context of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF): achievement, satisfaction, mobility, organizational commitment and retention. Objective determinants of career success include the qualities of the physical environment, physical job demands on effort, typical job demands, role conflict and subjective occupational hazards and the organisational culture of the military. The subjective determinants that impact career success are psychological in nature, such as value conflict, job security and psychological contact. Outcomes for individuals vary as mediated by organizational culture, gender, period of service and education.     

网络建构行为的研究现状与展望

网络建构行为是指个体尝试与对自己工作或职业有(潜在)帮助的人建立和维护非正式关系的一系列行为。研究表明：人口统计学差异、个性差异(如工作动机)、环境差异(如职业安全)等能影响个体的网络建构行为; 网络建构行为能使个人(如职业成功)和组织获益(如组织绩效)。今后的研究需要进一步探讨：网络建构测量工具的完善、相关研究的拓展、网络建构行为的培训开发和网络建构的经济衡量等问题。