Linking undergraduates' future work self and employability: a moderated mediation model.

Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101627676 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2050-7283 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20507283 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMC Psychol Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: London : BioMed Central, [2013]-

Asian People* ; Students*; Humans ; China ; Intention ; Personal Autonomy ; Random Allocation

Background: The career intentions of students play a crucial role in shaping the growth of the hospitality and tourism industry. Previous research underlines the significance of future work self in predicting outcomes related to one's career. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the precise ways, timing, and conditions under which the future work self of undergraduate students can enhance their employability.
Methods: This paper aims to address the existing research gap by employing career construction theory and self-determination theory to propose a moderated mediation model-i.e., career exploration serves as a mediator and job market knowledge functions as a moderator in the relationship between future work self and employability. We conducted two independent studies (i.e., an experimental study and a time-lagged field study) to test the proposed model. Specifically, in Study 1 we employed an experimental research design to recruit 61 students majoring in tourism management to participate. They were randomly assigned to two scenarios (future work self: high vs. low), and we manipulated different levels of future work self by means of scenario descriptions. In Study 2, we used the time-lagged research design to collect data via submitting questionnaires among 253 Chinese undergraduates who majored in hospitality and tourism at a university in the middle area of China.
Results: The results indicate a positive correlation between undergraduates' future work self and their employability. Furthermore, this relationship is mediated by a mediator of career exploration. It is important to note that this mediating relationship is also contingent upon the moderator variable of undergraduates' job market knowledge when considering the impact of career exploration on employability.
Conclusion: The findings contribute to enriching the current understanding of the positive effects of future work self on undergraduates' desirable outcomes in employability.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)

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2019Q011 The Funds of Social Science Research in Shanxi Province

Keywords: Career exploration; Employability; Future work self; Job market knowledge

Date Created: 20240319 Date Completed: 20240320 Latest Revision: 20240609

20240609

PMC10949635

10.1186/s40359-024-01530-1

38500193