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

• Published in: European Journal of Training and Development
• Main Author: 2-s2.0-85094566981
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Emerald Group Holdings Ltd. 2020
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85094566981&doi=10.1108%2fEJTD-05-2020-0081&partnerID=40&md5=646fdfa7b9a9a9ed4acd8a15a7efa5a9

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. © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.