The role of career competencies and proactive personality in early-career employee career adaptability

Abstract

Purpose

Employees with high career competencies are more successful in career development. However, it is unclear whether proactivity matters for early-career employees. Thus, this study aims to investigate the influence of career competencies and proactive personality on career adaptability and the moderating role of proactive personality in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a quantitative methodology, collecting data through online questionnaires from respondents (n = 400) who had less than five years of work experience in the UAE. A measurement model and hypotheses testing were conducted using AMOS software. Multigroup structural equation modelling was used to test the moderation model.

Findings

The results show a direct relationship between career competencies and career adaptability. However, a proactive personality is insignificantly related to career adaptability. Further, early-career employees with low proactive personality benefit from high career competencies.

Originality/value

This study offers contributions to the emerging understanding of career construction by emphasising the important role of career competencies for early-career employees who manifest a low proactive personality.

Citation

AlKhemeiri, A.K., Khalid, K. and Musa, N. (2021), "The role of career competencies and proactive personality in early-career employee career adaptability", European Journal of Training and Development, Vol. 45 No. 4/5, pp. 285-300. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-05-2020-0081