The Role and Types of Job Search Strategies as Career Growth Tool for Mid-Career Professionals

Abstract

This study examines whether and how job search strategies mediate the relationship between core self-evaluations (CSE) and career growth for mid-career professionals. Using a path analysis approach to analyze a national sample of mid-career professionals (N = 269), results revealed that CSE was positively related to the direct job search strategy (i.e., contacting employers directly) and negatively to the networking job search strategy (i.e., contacting friends/relatives). Interestingly, the direct job search strategy was positively related to both a recent promotion and salary increase (i.e., objective career growth), while the networking job search strategy was positively related to increased job satisfaction (i.e., subjective career growth). Findings also indicated that CSE was positively related to salary increase and a recent promotion. These findings suggest that job search strategies are one mechanism through which individual differences, such as CSE, can influence mid-career professionals’ career growth.

Keywords

career growth job search strategies core self-evaluations mid-career professionals

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