UNDERSTANDING NEWCOMERS’ ADAPTABILITY AND WORK‐RELATED OUTCOMES: TESTING THE MEDIATING ROLES OF PERCEIVED P–E FIT VARIABLES

Using longitudinal data from a Chinese newcomer sample (N = 671), we investigated the predictive effects of adaptability on newcomers’ work‐related outcomes. Specifically, we tested 4 perceived P–E fit variables (i.e., P–O fit, needs–supplies fit, demands–abilities fit, and P–G fit) as mediators between adaptability variables and newcomers’ work‐related outcomes. Our results showed that after controlling for demographic effects and other personality variables (i.e., proactive personality and openness to experience), newcomers’ adaptability dimensions (i.e., cultural adaptability, work stress adaptability, interpersonal adaptability, and learning adaptability) were differentially associated with improvement in newcomers’ P–E fit perceptions over a 3‐month time period. In turn, the perceived P–E fit variables were related to the newcomers’ work‐related outcomes (i.e., job performance, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions), after controlling for the socialization process variables (i.e., institutionalized socialization experience, role clarity, and job‐related self‐efficacy). The mediating roles of perceived P–E fit variables were also confirmed. Both theoretical and practical implications in terms of adaptability, newcomer adaptation processes, and P‐E fit are discussed.     

Adding a Family Counseling Training Component to a Community Agency Counseling Master's Degree

This article presents an example of the planning and implementation of a program to retrain counselor education faculty members and then to add a family counseling specialty component to a master's degree community agency counseling program. Implications for professional development, credentialing, and improving relationships with agencies and the community are discussed.     

An assimilation effect in perceptions of Sweden's political parties on the left-right dimension

The hypothesis that people would assimilate in their perceptions of the position of a preferred political party was tested using the left-right dimension in Sweden's 1976 National Election Survey. The hypothesis was supported within each of five party preference groups. People who strongly identified with their party showed a stronger tendency towd assimilation, but the effect was also present among people with a weak identification.     

Using Microcomputer-Based Assessment in Career Counseling

The author provides an overview of the current status of microcomputer-based testing, reviews several testing applications available in microcomputer format, and offers ideas on future developments.     

Training Alcoholics in Telephone Skills for Contacting Potential Employers

In this study of unemployed alcoholics, the authors found that telephone skills for contacting potential employers can be taught in a standard program of alcohol treatment.