Whole-life career self-management: A conceptual framework

Hirschi, A., Zacher, H., & Shockley, K. M. (2022). Whole-life career self-management: A conceptual framework. Journal of Career Development, 49(2), 344-362. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845320957729

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Abstract

Contemporary careers require flexible career self-management across the life span that takes work and nonwork roles into account. However, existing models of career self-management do not focus on how work and nonwork life domains interact in this process and work–life research largely neglected a careers perspective. To address this issue, we present a new theoretical framework of career self- management that considers the intersection of work and nonwork roles. Our model integrates insights from career self-management, action regulation, and the work–nonwork interface to propose how goals, action plans, and behaviors across work and nonwork roles are dynamically linked and how these processes lead to career satisfaction, work–life balance, and psychological well-being, affected by contextual and personal role expectations and resources and barriers. Our framework has implica- tions for the theoretical understanding of career self-management, the work–life interface, a whole-life perspective on career development, and contextual factors in career development across the life span.

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Networking as predictor of work-nonwork enrichment: Mechanisms on the within- and between-person level

Baumeler, F., Johnston, C. S., Hirschi, A., & Spurk, D. (2018). Networking as predictor of work-nonwork enrichment: Mechanisms on the within- and between-person level. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 109, 166-177. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2018.10.015

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A positive work–nonwork interface is an important aspect of successful career development because it is associated with satisfaction, positive health, and positive work outcomes. However, the role of proactive behaviors at work for work–nonwork enrichment mechanisms has thus far not received much attention. Based on the conservation of resource theory (Hobfoll, 1989) and work–family enrichment theory (Greenhaus & Powell, 2006), we investigated the instrumental (i.e., coworker support) and affective (i.e., positive affect at work) enrichment mechanisms facilitated by networking. We conducted a diary study for within-person effects and a longitudinal panel study for between-person effects. Results supported the notion that networking is positively related to coworker support and positive affect at work on both the within- and between-person level. Furthermore, the mediating effect of coworker support for the relation between networking and work–nonwork enrichment on the within-person level was supported. On the between-person level, the mediating effect through positive affect at work was supported. Implications for research and practice concerning the resources gained by networking and the different work–nonwork enrichment mechanisms on the within- and between-person levels are discussed.

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Achieving work-family balance: An action regulation model

Hirschi, A., Shockley, K. M., & Zacher, H. (2019). Achieving work-family balance: An action regulation model. Academy of Management Review, 44(1), 150-171. doi:10.5465/amr.2016.0409

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Abstract

Work and family are highly intertwined for many individuals. Despite this, individual-level strategies for achieving effectiveness and satisfaction across work and family roles have not received sufficient attention. We address this issue by conceptualizing work-family balance from an action regulation perspective as the successful joint pursuit of work and family goals. Building on insights from the work-family literature, action regulation theory, and multiple goals research, we propose a theoretical model that explains how people can jointly attain work and family goals by using four action strategies (i.e., allocating resources, changing resources and barriers, sequencing goals, and revising goals). We address the conditions under which each strategy is used, depending on the malleability of resources and barriers for goal attainment, time to deadline of goals, as well as feedback and monitoring of progress across work and family goals. Our model offers new insights and research implications regarding work-family balance and helps develop practical interventions that result in improved management of the work-family interface.

Keywords: action regulation; multiple goals; work-family balance 

Laufbahnmanagement von jungen Arbeitnehmenden [Career management of young employees]

Baumeler, F, & Hirschi, A. (2017). Laufbahnmanagement von jungen Arbeitnehmenden [Career management of young employees]. In S. Kauffeld & D. Spurk (Hrsg.), Handbuch Laufbahnmanagement und Karriereplanung. Heidelberg: Springer. 

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Zusammenfassung 

Organisationale Sozialisation, Weiterentwicklung von eigenen Kompetenzen, Verfolgen von Laufbahnzielen sowie die Integration von verschiedenen Lebensbereichen sind zentrale Herausforderungen für junge Arbeitnehmende in der frühen Laufbahnphase. Deren erfolgreiche Bewältigung trägt wesentlich zur persönlichen Laufbahnentwicklung und dem Erfolg von Organisationen bei. Dieses Kapitel beschreibt die Anforderungen für junge Arbeitnehmende sowie Bewältigungsmöglichkeiten für das Individuum und die Organisation. Ein Ausblick für Forschung und Praxis des Laufbahnmanagements der frühen Laufbahnphase sowie ein Fazit bilden den Abschluss des Kapitels.