Fit or Involuntary Placement: The Chinese Experience of High Public Service Motivation Among Newly Recruited Civil Servants

Abstract

This study examines how person–job fit influences the formation of public service motivation (PSM) among newly recruited civil servants under involuntary placement systems. Based on organizational socialization theory and the Ability–Motivation–Opportunity (AMO) framework, we propose a sequential mediation model linking person–job fit, self-efficacy, training evaluation, and public service motivation (PSM). Using survey data from 746 new civil servants in G Province, China (2020–2022), structural equation modeling and moderated mediation analyses were conducted. Results show that person–job fit significantly enhances PSM; self-efficacy and training evaluation jointly mediate this relationship, forming a sequential mechanism; and work environment and career development moderate the effect of job fit on self-efficacy, though not its direct effect on PSM. Findings highlight the importance of perceived fit and socialization context in fostering PSM in public sector entrants.