Hope as a resource for self-directed career management: Investigating mediating effects on proactive career behaviors, life and job satisfaction
Hirschi, A. (2014). Hope as a resource for self-directed career management: Investigating mediating effects on proactive career behaviors, life and job satisfaction. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(6), 1495-1512. doi:10.1007/s10902-013-9488-x
Abstract
Hope is increasingly recognized as an important psychological resource for career development, yet the empirical research on its functioning in this domain is sparse. This paper describes an investigation of how dispositional hope is related to career decidedness, career planning, and career self-efficacy beliefs and whether these more proximal career attitudes mediate the effects of hope on proactive career behaviors, life satisfaction, and job satisfaction. This investigation was conducted using two independent samples of university students (N=1,334) and working professionals (N=233). The results showed that in both samples, hope was significantly related but empirically distinct from career variables. In both samples, hope had a direct effect on proactive career behaviors, partially mediated by more career planning. Hope had significant direct and indirect effects on life satisfaction among students, mediated by three career development attitudes. Although hope was significantly correlated with job satisfaction among employees, no direct effect of hope was found in the mediation model, but an indirect effect through career decidedness was found. The results suggest that hope is an important resource for proactive career development at different career stages and that the positive relation of hope to life and job satisfaction can partially be attributed to the positive relation between hope and favorable career development attitudes.
Keywords: hope; career development; proactivity; life satisfaction; job satisfaction
The Career Engagement Scale: Development and validation of a measure of proactive career behaviors
Hirschi, A., Freund, P. A., & Herrmann, A. (2014). The Career Engagement Scale: Development and validation of a measure of proactive career behaviors. Journal of Career Assessment, 22(4), 575-594. doi:10.1177/1069072713514813
Abstract
Careers today increasingly require engagement in proactive career behaviors;however, there is a lack of validated measures assessing the general degree to which somebody is engaged in such career behaviors. We describe the results of six studies with six independent samples of German university students (total N ¼ 2,854), working professionals (total N ¼ 561), and university graduates (N ¼ 141) that report the development and validation of the Career Engagement scale—a measure of the degree to which somebody is proactively developing his or her career, expressed by diverse career behaviors. The studies provide support for measurement invariance across gender and time. In support of convergent and discriminant validity, we find that career engagement is more prevalent among working professionals than among university students and that this scale has incremental validity above several specific career behaviors regarding its relation to vocational identity clarity and career self-efficacy beliefs among students and to job and career satisfaction among employees. In support of incremental predictive validity, beyond the effects of several more specific career behaviors, career engagement while at university predicts higher job and career satisfaction several months later after beginning work.
Keywords: career development, proactivity, career behaviors, career counseling
Vocational identity achievement as a mediator of presence of calling and life satisfaction
Hirschi, A. & Herrmann, A. (2012). Vocational identity achievement as a mediator of presence of calling and life satisfaction. Journal of Career Assessment, 20(3), 309-321. doi:10.1177/1069072711436158
Abstract
The present study explores what mechanism might be responsible for the reported link between presence of a calling in one’s career and life satisfaction. It is proposed that vocational identity achievement acts as one important mediator of this relation and that the effects can be observed even when controlling for core self-evaluations (CSEs). The study used a short-term longitudinal design based on a sample of 269 German college students from different majors. The results con firmed the mediation model, with calling predicting vocational identity achievement 6 months later and identity serving as a stronger predictor of life satisfaction, all controlling for CSEs. However, contrary to previous research, presence of calling was not directly related to life satisfaction and even showed a negative relation when vocational identity achievement was controlled. The results are interpreted to suggest a multifaceted relation between calling and life satisfaction.
Keywords: calling, vocational identity, core self-evaluations, career development
Self-initiated expatriates and their career success
Cao, L., Hirschi, A., & Deller, J. (2012). Self-initiated expatriates and their career success. Journal of Management Development, 31(2), 159-172. doi:10.1108/02621711211199494
Abstract
Purpose– This paper aims to provide conceptual clarity by distinguishing self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) from company-assigned expatriates (AEs), and skilled migrants; most importantly, it introduces an overarching conceptual framework based on career capital theory to explain SIEs’ career success.
Design/methodology/approach– This conceptual framework is based on a review of the relevant literature on SIE, expatriation, career studies, cross-cultural studies, migration, and other related areas.
Findings– Protean career attitude, career networks, and cultural intelligence are identified as three major types of career capital influencing SIEs career success positively; the predicting relationships between these are mediated by cultural adjustment in the host country. Cultural distance acts as the moderator, which highlights the influence of macro-contextual factors on SIEs’ career development.
Research limitations/implications– The current paper applied career capital theory and did not integrate the impact of family and labour market situation on SIEs’ career development. Further research should test the proposed framework empirically, and integrate the impact of family- and career-related factors into a holistic approach.
Practical implications– When constructing international talent acquisition and retention strategies, organizations and receiving countries should understand the different career development needs and provide SIEswith opportunities to increase career capital during expatriation. Furthermore, the current framework suggests how to adjust to the host country in order to meet career development goals.
Originality/value– The multi-level and sequential framework adds value by identifying specific types of career capital for SIEs and providing a conceptual underpinning for explaining how they interact and foster SIEs’ caree
Vocational identity trajectories: Differences in personality and development of well-being
Hirschi, A. (2012). Vocational identity trajectories: Differences in personality and development of well-being. European Journal of Personality, 26(1), 2-12. doi: 10.1002/per.812
Abstract
This person-centred study investigated the longitudinal patterns of vocational identity development in relation to personality, the development of well-being, gender, nationality and the attended school track among two cohorts of Swiss adolescents in 8th or 9th grade (N ¼ 269) and in 11th or 12th grade (N ¼ 230). The results confirmed the existence of four identity statuses, namely, achievement, foreclosure, moratorium and diffusion. Forty two per cent of students showed progressive patterns of identity development, while 37% remained in their identity status over time. Students with different statuses and status change patterns differed significantly in their personality traits. Higher neuroticism related to the emergence of identity exploration over time, while conscientiousness related to maintaining or achieving a sense ofidentity commitment in terms of achievement or foreclosure. Controlling for the effects of socio-demographics and personality traits, students who reached or maintained a state characterized by identity clarity and commitment showed a relative increase in life satisfaction, while those entering a state of identity crisis or exploration showed a decrease in life satisfaction.
Keywords: vocational identity; career development; adolescence; personality; well-being
Relation of vocational identity statuses to interest structure among Swiss adolescents
Hirschi, A. (2011). Relation of vocational identity statuses to interest structure among Swiss adolescents. Journal of Career Development, 38(5). 390 - 407. doi:10.1177/0894845310378665
Abstract
Vocational identity is one core component of identity construction in adolescence. The current study investigated whether vocational interest structure in terms of differentiation, coherence, elevation, and interest–aspiration congruence would differentiate among students in vocational identity achievement, foreclosure, moratorium, and diffusion. Swiss students at the beginning of eighth grade (N ¼ 341) participated in the study. Groups were created using cluster analysis based on the dimensions of career exploration and career commitment, and group differences were explored with discriminant analysis. Controlling for sociodemographic variables, higher interest differentiation and elevation distinguished students in achievement/moratorium from those in diffusion. More interest elevation differentiated moratorium from foreclosure.
Keywords: vocational identity, vocational interests, adolescence, career development
Engagement in adolescent career preparation: Social support, personality, and the development of choice decidedness and congruence
Hirschi, A., Niles, S. G., & Akos, P. (2011). Engagement in adolescent career preparation: Social support, personality, and the development of choice decidedness and congruence. Journal of Adolescence, 34, 173-182. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2009.12.009
Abstract
This longitudinal panel study investigated predictors and outcomesof active engagement in career preparation among 349 Swiss adolescents from the beginning to the end of eighth grade. Latent variable structural equation modeling was applied. The results showed that engagement in terms of self- and environmental-exploration and active career planning related positively to interindividual increases in career decidedness and choice congruence. More perceived social support, early goal decidedness, and particular personality traits predicted more engagement. Support and personality impacted outcomes only mediated throughengagement.Earlydecidednessandcongruenceweresignificantpredictorsof their respective later levels. Implications for practice are presented.
Positive adolescent career development: The role of intrinsic and extrinsic work values
Hirschi, A. (2010). Positive adolescent career development: The role of intrinsic and extrinsic work values. Career Development Quarterly, 58(3), 276-287. doi: 10.1002/j.2161-0045.2010.tb00193.x
Abstract
This longitudinal study of 268 Swiss adolescents, spanning across 8th grade, investigated the relation of intrinsic and extrinsic work values to positive career development in deciding, planning, and exploring. Results showed that girls re ported more intrinsic and fewer extrinsic work values compared with boys. Students with an immigration background reported more extrinsic values than did students of Swiss nationality. When gender, nationality, and scholastic achievement were controlled, more general work value endorsement was a significant predictor of an above-average increase in career development over the course of the school year. Endorsement of more intrinsic but not extrinsic work values was related to positive career development.
The role of chance events in the school-to-work transition: The influence of demographic, personality and career development variables
Hirschi, A. (2010). The role of chance events in the school-to-work transition: The influence of demographic, personality and career development variables. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 77(1), 39-49. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2010.02.002
Abstract
Chance events are considered important in career development, yet little empirical research is available on their predictors and consequences. The present study investigated socio demographic (gender, nationality, school-type), personality (openness, locus of control) and career development variables (career decidedness, career planning) in relation to perceived chance events with a retrospective (N=229, eleventh grade), and 1-year longitudinal prospective study (N=245, eighth/ninth grade) among Swiss adolescents. The results showed that the majority of both groups reported a significant influence of chance events on their transition from compulsory school to vocational education or high school. Importance of chance events related to socio-demographics and personality but not career preparation. Career preparation and chance events predicted subjective career success in terms of wish correspondence and overall satisfaction with transition outcome among the younger cohort. Implications include the necessity to integrate both thorough career preparation and chance events in theory and counseling practice.
Individual predictors of adolescents’ vocational interest stabilities
Hirschi, A. (2010). Individual predictors of adolescents’ vocational interest stabilities. International Journal of Educational and Vocational Guidance, 10(1), 5-19. doi:10.1007/s10775-009-9171-2
Abstract
The study investigated the predictive utility of interest profile differ entiation, coherence, elevation, congruence, and vocational identity commitment and career maturity (career planning and exploration) on the 10-month interest stability of 292 Swiss eighth-grade students: profile, rank, and level stabilities were assessed. Controlling for socio-demographic and vocational interest type variables, measures of differentiated and coherent vocational interests were significant pre dictors of profile stability. Interest elevation predicted more rank and level stability. The career development variables explained only a non-significant additional amount of variance in the different stability measures.
Swiss adolescents’ career aspirations: Influence of context, age, and career adaptability
Hirschi, A. (2010). Swiss adolescents’ career aspirations: Influence of context, age, and career adaptability. Journal of Career Development, 36(3), 228-245. doi:10.1177/0894845309345844
Abstract
This study investigated the content, realism, stability, and coherence of the career aspirations of 262 students in seventh grade in Switzerland (ages 13 15 years). The content analysis revealed that 82% of the participants named at least one realistic career aspiration, and aspirations showed clear resemblance to existing opportunities in the environment. Quantitative analyses confirmed the hypotheses that realism and stability of aspirations over a 10-month period could better be predicted by individual degree of career adaptability as measured by planfulness and exploration than by chronological age when grade level was controlled for. Coherence of aspirations was not related to age or adaptability. Students attending basic scholastic requirements school tracks reported more adaptability but not more realistic, stable, or coherent aspirations compared to students in advanced requirements tracks.
Keywords: career decision making, career aspirations, career development, counseling psychology
Career adaptability development in adolescence: Multiple predictors and effects on sense of power and life satisfaction
Hirschi, A. (2009). Career adaptability development in adolescence: Multiple predictors and effects on sense of power and life satisfaction. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 74(2), 145-155. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2009.01.002
Abstract
This longitudinal panel study investigated predictors of career adaptability development and its effect on development of sense of power and experience of life satisfaction among 330 Swiss eighth graders. A multivariate measure of career adaptability consisting of career choice readiness, planning, exploration, and confidence was applied. Based on Motivational Systems Theory four groups of predictors were assessed: positive emotional disposition, goal decidedness, capability beliefs and social context beliefs. Influence of gender, age, immigration background, parental educational level, and college-bound or vocational edu cation plans were also assessed. Perceived social support and positive emotional disposi tion, non-immigration background, and continuing to vocational education were single significant predictors of more career adaptability development over the school year. Sup porting the connection of career adaptability and positive youth development, increase in career adaptability over time predicted increase in sense of power and experience of life satisfaction.
Dynamics in career development: Personal and organizational perspectives
Hirschi, A., & Dauwalder, J.-P. (2015). Dynamics in career development: Personal and organizational perspectives. In L. Nota & Rossier, R. (Eds.), Handbook of the Life Design paradigm: From practice to theory, from theory to practice (pp.27-39). Boston, MA: Hogrefe.
Personality, career development, and occupational attainment
Brown, S. D. & Hirschi, A. (2013). Personality, career development, and occupational attainment. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Career development and counseling: Putting theory and research to work (2nd ed.) (pp.299-328). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons Inc.