Career Self-Management Competencies: Conceptualization and Measurement Based on a Career Self-Regulation Framework
Hirschi, A., & Wilhelm, F. (2025). Career Self-Management Competencies: Conceptualization and Measurement Based on a Career Self-Regulation Framework. Journal of Career Assessment, 10690727251391209. https://doi.org/10.1177/10690727251391209
Abstract
In a labor market characterized by augmented dynamics and uncertainties, people increasingly need competencies to self-manage their career across their working lives. Based on a career self-regulation framework and an iterative process including researchers, career counselors, and stakeholders from education, business, and labor associations, we specified key career self-management competencies (CSM-C) in the domains of (a) goal setting, (b) mapping resources and barriers, (c) formulating and implementing action plans, and (d) monitoring and revising career management. We then developed and validated a new short 8-item measurement scale to assess self‑perceived CSM-C. In two studies with two independent samples in Germany, we confirmed the new scale’s positive relation with measures of professional skills, personality traits, perceived social and organizational support, career attitudes and orientations, and career adaptability. We moreover established incremental validity for engagement in career behaviors, workplace status, employability, and career satisfaction beyond a range of constructs and a prominent existing career competencies scale. We outline how future research and career assessment practice can use the presented framework and measure to obtain a better understanding of what allows people to successfully manage their careers in an adaptable, self-directed way.
Career self-management as resource management through action regulation: Theoretical concepts and practice implications for promoting career management skills
Schläpfer, D., Wilhelm, F., & Hirschi, A. (2025). Career self-management as resource management through action regulation: Theoretical concepts and practice implications for promoting career management skills. In L. Sovet, A. Chant, J. Katsarov, & J. Pouyaud (Eds.), Building Career Management Skills (pp. 56-73). Network for Innovation in Career Guidance and Counselling in Europe. https://www.nice-network.eu/
Abstract
Career management skills are important in today’s labor market, which is characterized by increased volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. This chapter aims to provide a better understanding of core career management skills by presenting a framework which sees career self-management as an active process of resource management. Based on this perspective, career self-management consists of building, maintaining, and applying knowledge and skills, psychological (motivational/ attitudinal), and contextual resources through various career self-management behaviors. We moreover suggest how career self-management skills can be enhanced throughout the lifespan by presenting career self-management as an action-regulation process. This process consists of four phases in terms of (1) goal setting and development, (2) mapping the environment for goal-relevant resources and barriers, (3) planning and execution of behaviors, and (4) monitoring and feedback processing. Based on this conceptualization of career self-management, we discuss how practitioners can assist clients in this process across different action regulation phases of career self-management.
Keywords: career resources, action regulation, career self-management, career self-management skills