Does success change people? Examining objective career success as a precursor for personality development.

Hirschi, A., Johnston, C. S., De Fruyt, F., Ghetta, A., & Orth, U. (2021). Does success change people? Examining objective career success as a precursor for personality development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 127, 103582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2021.103582

---

Abstract

Numerous studies established personality traits as predictors of career success. However, if and how career success can also trigger changes in personality has not received much attention. Drawing from the neosocioanalytic model of personality and its social investment and corresponsive principles, this paper investigated how the attainment of objective career success contributes to personality change in the Big Five traits of neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. We conducted cross-lagged analyses with three measurement waves over eight years with a representative sample of 4′767 working adults from the German Socio-Economic Panel and examined if objective success (i.e., income and occupational prestige) predicted changes in personality. We also tested if effects differed across age groups or between men and women. Results showed that career success predicted changes in personality for neuroticism, extraversion, and openness. Higher income predicted a decrease in neuroticism and increase in openness. Higher prestige predicted a decrease in extraversion and an increase in openness. Results did not differ according to age group or for men or women. We discuss the results in light of the effects that career success can exert on personality development and the complexity inherent in observing personality change.

Free open access

Ambitious employees: why and when ambition relates to performance evaluations and organizational commitment

Hirschi, A., & Spurk, D. (2021). Ambitious employees: why and when ambition relates to performance evaluations and organizational commitment. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 127, 103576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2021.103576

---

Abstract

It is often assumed that ambition has important workplace outcomes, but empirical research has only partially addressed this issue and frequently relied on imprecise measures of ambition. In two studies, based on an improved measure of ambition as a general disposition, we clarified how, why, and when ambition relates to performance evaluations and organizational commitment outcomes. Study 1 suggests that ambition has significant reputation effects in that self-rated ambition was positively related to ambition rated by supervisors and spouse/life partners, based on 100 employee-supervisor-spouse/life partners triads. Moreover, supervisor-rated ambition, but not self-rated ambition, was significantly positively related to higher supervisor-rated job performance and promotability, beyond employee-rated proactivity and generalized self-efficacy. Study 2 focused on organizational commitment outcomes with a three-month time-lagged study with 194 employees. We found that ambition was positively related to higher affective organizational commitment beyond achievement striving, especially when more organizational career opportunities were perceived. However, controlling for perceived organizational career opportunities and achievement striving, ambition was also positively related to increased organizational turnover intentions. Overall, the studies suggest that ambition among employees is generally positive and indirectly beneficial for individual job performance evaluations, but also poses some risks to organizational retention management.

Free open access

Striving for success: Towards a refined understanding and measurement of ambition

Hirschi, A., & Spurk, D. (2021). Striving for success: Towards a refined understanding and measurement of ambition. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 127, 103577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2021.103577

---

Abstract

Despite broad interest in the nature of ambition and its effects on career outcomes, scientific research on this issue is limited due to an inconsistent conceptualization and measurement of ambition. Consistent with theoretical views, but in contrast to most existing measurements, we conceptualize ambition as a general personal disposition and developed and evaluated a 5-item measure of ambition consistent with this conceptualization. We report a six-phase process including (1) item generation, (2) item content review by subject matter experts, (3) item reduction and selection based on a university student (N = 1074) and employee (N = 469) sample, (4) examining convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity in relation to existing ambition scales with an employee sample (N = 301), (5) establishing discriminant validity to other personal dispositions in terms of achievement striving, trait competitiveness, and future time perspective with an employee sample (N = 544), and (6) establishing re-test reliability, longitudinal measurement-invariance, and incremental criterion validity regarding objective (i.e., salary, promotions) and subjective career success (i.e., career satisfaction) with a six-month time-lagged study (N = 394). In sum, the newly developed scale should be useful for future research to improve the theoretical and empirical understanding of the nature and effects of ambition.

Free open access

Career Preparedness in Adolescents: An Overview of Empirical Research and Suggestions for Practice

Steiner, R. S., Marciniak, J., Johnston, C. S., & Hirschi, A. (2019). Career preparedness in adolescents: An overview of empirical research and suggestions for practice. In J. A. Athanasou & H. N. Perera (Eds), International handbook of career guidance (2nd Ed, pp. 305-323). Springer.

---

Abstract

The present chapter provides an overview of the theoretical and empirical research on career preparedness among adolescents and derives implications for practice. We integrate various conceptualisations of career preparedness and suggest that career preparedness can be understood as a multidimensional construct consisting of attitudes, knowledge and competencies, and behaviours. Moreover, we summarise recent research on predictors and outcomes of career preparedness. Research on outcomes highlights that career preparedness is related to beneficial outcomes in various domains of adolescents’ lives (e.g., work, education). Research on predictors demonstrates the relevance of personal factors (e.g., work- related attitudes and motivations) as well as environmental factors (e.g., career interventions) to foster career preparedness in adolescents. Finally, based on the empirical evidence discussed in this chapter, we develop suggestions and guidelines for practitioners on how adolescents can be supported in the process of career preparation.

Keywords: career preparedness; adolescents; career preparation; career maturity; career readiness.

Free PDF

Career Resources Questionnaire (CRQ)

Ingold, S., Haenggli, M., & Hirschi, A. (2019). Career Resources Questionnaire (CRQ). In: Kevin B. Stoltz & Susan R. Barclay. (Eds.), A Comprehensive Guide to Career Assessment, 7th Edition. Broken Arrow, OK: National Career Development Association (NCDA).

---

Berufswahltheorien – Entwicklung und Stand der Diskussion

Hirschi, A. & Baumeler, F. (2020). Berufswahltheorien – Entwicklung und Stand der Diskussion. In T. Brüggemann & S. Rahn (Hrsg.), Berufsorientierung. Ein Lehr- und Arbeitsbuch (2. überarbeitete und erweiterte Auflage) (pp. 31-42). Münster: Waxmann Verlag.

---

Career development of older workers and retirees

Hirschi, A., & Pang, D. (2021). Career development of older workers and retirees. In S. D. Brown and R. W. Lent (Eds.), Career Development and Counseling: Putting Theory and Research to Work (3rd Edition). New York, NY: Wiley.

---

Zwingt Automatisierung zum Berufswechsel?

Medici, G., Tschopp, C., Grote, G., Igic, I., Hirschi, A. (2020). Zwingt Automatisierung zum Berufswechsel? Die Volkswirtschaft, 10, 40-42.  

Je höher der Anteil automatisierbarer Tätigkeiten, desto weniger Personen arbeiten zehn Jahre nach dem Lehrabschluss noch im selben Beruf. Das zeigt eine neue Studie zur beruflichen Mobilität von jungen Erwachsenen. 

Abstract 

Der technologische, wirtschaftliche und soziale Wandel verlangt nach gut ausgebildeten Personen, die sich im Verlauf ihrer Karriere weiterentwickeln und sich den Gegebenheiten anpassen können. Für die Schweiz und ihr etabliertes Modell der Berufsbildung stellt sich nun die Frage, ob die berufliche Grundbildung für stabile Kar- riereverläufe sorgt. Forschende der ETH Zürich und der Universität Bern haben die be- rufliche Mobilität nach absolvierter Lehre analysiert und den Einfluss technologischer Entwicklungen berücksichtigt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen deutliche Unterschiede zwischen den Berufen, sowohl in der Mobilität wie auch im Substituierbarkeitspotenzial. Es fand sich zudem ein Zusammenhang zwischen Substituierbarkeitspotenzial und beruflicher Mobilität.

---

Entwicklung der Berufswahlbereitschaft von Jugendlichen

Marciniak, J., Hirschi, A. (2020). Entwicklung der Berufswahlbereitschaft von Jugendlichen. Panorama, 5, 20-21.

Zentrale Inhalte und förderliche Faktoren der Berufswahlbereitschaft von Jugendlichen wurden in einer systematischen Literaturübersicht identifiziert. In einer Interventionsstudie bei Jugendlichen war der traditionelle Passungsansatz erfolgreicher als ein moderner Ansatz.

---

Contemporary Career Orientations and Career Self-Management: A Review and Integration

Hirschi, A. & Koen J. (2021). Contemporary Career Orientations and Career Self-Management: A Review and Integration. Journal of Vocational Behavior.

---

Abstract

Successful career development requires increased career self-management and contemporary career orientations accordingly stress the importance of being self-directed, values-driven, and flexible. This paper provides an overview of key perspectives on contemporary career orientations in relation to career self-management (CSM), as well as a systematic review of these two streams of literatures. With a focus on highly influential classic and recent papers as well as on all papers published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior on these topics, we aim to integrate the literatures on career orientations and CSM and advance future research. To this purpose, we present an integrative framework of career self-regulation which views CSM as a dynamic process consisting of goal setting and development, information seeking, planning and execution of behaviors, and monitoring and feedback processing. This process is influenced by, and subsequently affects, individual career orientations. We finish the paper by providing several directions for future research in terms of examining more dynamic and self-regulatory processes, unpacking the role of context, integrating the larger proactivity literature, applying a work-nonwork perspective, and developing and testing interventions.

Keywords: career orientations; career self-management; self-regulation; protean career; boundaryless career; proactive career behavior

---

Profiles of Calling and Their Relation to University-to-Work Transition Outcomes

Zhang, C., Hirschi, A., Li, M., & You, X. (2021). Profiles of calling and their relation to university-to-work transition outcomes. Journal of Career Development.

---

Abstract

In this study, we adopted a person-centered approach using latent profile analysis to explore whether profiles of calling based on the internal and external sources of a calling are identified and how these profiles relate to successful university-to-work transition outcomes (i.e., higher career satisfaction, higher person-job fit, and lower turnover intentions). We assessed a sample of 684 Chinese university graduates one week before and six months after graduation and found five profiles of calling: Strongly undeveloped calling, moderately undeveloped calling, transcendent calling, highly transcendent calling, and modern calling. We found that a calling which was driven by internal and external sources (i.e., transcendent calling) or predominantly by internal sources (i.e., modern calling) related to more successful university-to-work transition outcomes. Our findings contribute to the literature on calling by showing that the sources of calling are important to conceptualize different types of calling and differentiate the role of different callings.

Keywords: Calling profiles, sources of calling, university to work transition, latent profile analysis, career satisfaction

---

Forget about the money? A latent profile analysis of calling and work motivation in Chinese employees

Zhang, C., & Hirschi, A. (2021). Forget about the money? A latent profile analysis of calling and work motivation in Chinese employees. Career Development International.

---

Abstract

Purpose – Calling is typically associated with more intrinsic than extrinsic work motivation.

This could give the impression that employees with a calling do not need or care about external rewards. To deepen the understanding of the relationship between calling and work motivation, we tested how calling is combined with different types of work motivation and how such combinations affect work outcomes differentially.
Design/methodology/approach – We applied latent profile analysis among Chinese employees with diverse occupations (N = 1,290) to identify calling and work motivation profiles and test their relations with work outcomes, assessed four months later.
Findings – Four profiles emerged: externally motivated low calling, moderately externally motivated calling, moderately motivated calling, and highly motivated calling. Employees with weaker and stronger callings indicated being extrinsically motivated for work. Employees in the highly motivated calling profile exhibited highest job satisfaction, lowest cynicism, and lowest turnover intentions, followed by employees in the moderately motivated calling profile, the moderately externally motivated calling profile, and the externally motivated low calling profile.
Implications – Our findings imply that employees with a strong calling do care about external rewards and also benefit from external incentives to work.
Originality/value – This study is the first to explore the differential relationship between callingZhang, C., & Hirschi, A. (2021). Forget about the money? A latent profile analysis of calling and work motivation in Chinese employees. Career Development International. and work motivation. Moreover, our findings offer insights regarding the under- researched notion that different types of calling predict work outcomes differently.

Keywords: Calling profiles, work motivation, external motivation, latent profile analysis, job satisfaction
Article classification: Research paper

Explaining Age Differences in the Motivating Potential of Intergenerational Contact at Work

Burmeister, A., Hirschi, A., & Zacher, H. (in press). Explaining age differences in the motivating potential of intergenerational contact at work. Work, Aging and Retirement.

---

Abstract

Understanding the effects of intergenerational contact at work is important given aging and increasingly age-diverse workforces. The aim of this research was to better understand who derives motivational benefits from intergenerational contact, and the processes by which this occurs. To do so, we adopted a motivational lens grounded in need-based theories of work motivation and lifespan development theory. We argue that the motivating effect of intergenerational contact on work engagement via sense of belonging is more pronounced for older compared to younger employees due to changes in goal priorities across the lifespan. Specifically, we posit the generativity motive and perceived remaining time at work as lifespan-related mechanisms that explain the moderating effects of age on the links between intergenerational contact and work engagement. In Study 1, a laboratory experiment with 45 younger and 45 older participants in Switzerland, we found support for a causal effect of intergenerational contact on sense of belonging. In Study 2, a three-wave field study with 560 employees in Germany, we found that sense of belonging mediated the relation between intergenerational contact and work engagement. Further, perceived remaining time at work explained the moderating effect of age on the link between sense of belonging and work engagement. By highlighting age differences in the motivating potential of intergenerational contact, we advance research on intergroup contact, employee motivation, and workforce aging.

Keywords: workforce aging; intergenerational potential; life span development theory; intergroup contact theory; need-based theories of work motivation

Free PDF

Grass roots of occupational change: Understanding mobility in vocational careers

Medici G., Tschopp, C., Grote, G., & Hirschi, A. (2020). Grass roots of occupational change: Understanding mobility in vocational careers. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 122, 103480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103480

Abstract

Most prior research on career mobility has focused on people changing jobs and organizations. We know little about processes involved in individuals changing occupations, although these changes cause high individual, organizational, and public costs. Moreover, occupations are in- creasingly acknowledged as important anchors in times of more boundaryless careers. The current study investigates the impact of early satisfaction with the trained occupation (VET satisfaction) on occupational change by analyzing 10-year longitudinal panel data gathered in Switzerland (N = 905). Results from regression analyses showed that VET satisfaction predicted occupational change up to ten years after graduation. VET satisfaction in turn was affected by work characteristics experienced during VET, and VET satisfaction mediated the relationship between work characteristics during VET and occupational change. Using a subsample (N = 464) for which data were available on jobs taken up after graduation, we showed that VET satisfaction explained occupational change over and above work satisfaction in jobs held after graduation, highlighting the formative role of early experience during VET. Our findings inform both theory and practice. To fully comprehend occupational change, established turnover models also need to reflect on early formative vocational experiences. Firms should pay attention to favorable work characteristics already during VET and adjust adverse conditions to reduce undesired occupational mobility.

---

Reaching the heart or the mind? Test of two theory-based training programs to improve interactions between age-diverse coworkers.

Burmeister, A., Gerpott, F. H., Hirschi, A., Scheibe, S., Pak, K., & Kooij, D. (2020). Reaching the heart or the mind? Test of two theory-based training programs to improve interactions between age-diverse coworkers. Academy of Management Learning & Education. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2019.0348

---

Abstract

Due to demographic change, age diversity is increasing in many organizations. We aimed to understand how organizations can use age diversity training to overcome the challenges and realize the benefits of an age-diverse workforce. We built on the two predominant theoretical perspectives in the diversity literature–social identity theory and the information/decision-making perspective–to advance a dual pathway model and to develop two age diversity training programs: An identity- oriented training that helps organizations to overcome the challenges of age diversity by “speaking to the heart” of age-diverse coworkers and a knowledge-oriented training that helps organizations to realize the benefits of age diversity by “speaking to the mind” of age-diverse coworkers. We tested both training programs in a randomized controlled field experiment with age-diverse coworker dyads. We found that the identity-oriented training facilitated contact quality as a socioemotional outcome through increased levels of coworker’s perceived similarity and also reduced stereotype threat. The knowledge-oriented training increased knowledge transfer as a sociocognitive outcome through increased levels of coworker’s perceived knowledge utility and transactive memory. In a pilot training integration study, we made a first attempt to develop and test an integrated training program. Our findings advance research on the evidence-based management of age diversity.

---

Measuring career preparedness among adolescents: development and validation of the career resources questionnaire – Adolescent version

Marciniak, J., Hirschi, A., Johnston, C.S. & Haenggli, M. (2020). Measuring career preparedness among adolescents: development and validation of the career resources questionnaire – Adolescent version. Journal of Career Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072720943838

---

Abstract

Adolescents need to develop career preparedness to successfully transition from school to work. Many factors represent career preparedness, which are difficult to measure comprehensively and economically. We used a career resources framework to assess key aspects of career preparedness among in-school adolescents, and adapted and validated the Career Resources Questionnaire. The questionnaire assesses 12 distinct aspects of career preparedness (i.e., occupational expertise, labor market knowledge, soft skills, career involvement, career confidence, career clarity, social support from school, family, and friends, networking, career exploration, and self-exploration). We demonstrate the reliability, factor structure, and validity evidences based on internal structure and relations with other variables of the new measure among two samples (N1 = 186; N2 = 1,004). In sum, the study indicates that the assessment can be used by researchers and practitioners to reliably and economically assess several key indicators of career preparedness.

---

Career preparation among adolescents: A review of key components and directions for future research

Marciniak, J., Johnston, C., Steiner, R., & Hirschi, A. (2020). Career preparedness among adolescents: A review of key components and directions for future research. Journal of Career Development. doi: 10.1177/0894845320943951

---

Abstract

Adolescents and students are faced with the developmental task of becoming prepared for a career and master future career transitions. Existing research has investigated a range of concepts relating to career preparedness, including predictors and outcomes. However, this body of work is fragmented as a number of different conceptualizations and measurements related to career preparedness exist. Thus, the goal of this review is to provide an overview of the different concepts that have been used to describe and measure career preparedness. Based on a comprehensive review of empirical articles on maturity, readiness, adaptability, preparedness, and preparation, we propose an organizing framework of the diverse attitudes, knowledge and competencies, and behaviors required for career preparedness. We also review the empirical research on predictors and outcomes of career preparedness. We close by identifying issues in the conceptualization and measurement of different constructs and provide suggestions for future research, and implications for theory and practice.

---

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

---

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.

---

Trajectories of calling in the transition from university to work: A growth mixture analysis

Zhang, C., & Hirschi, A., & You, X. (2020). Trajectories of calling in the transition from university to work: A growth mixture analysis. Journal of Career Assessment. doi: 10.1177/1069072720931010

---

Abstract

Research on the development of calling is still in its infancy and rarely focused on how calling changes during a major career transition. The current study examined the developmental trajectories of calling and their relation with personality (i.e., conscientiousness, proactive personality) in the transition from university to work with a three-wave longitudinal study with 340 Chinese graduating university students. Results based on growth mixture modeling indicated three developmental trajectories of calling: high and stable calling (23% of sample), high but decreasing calling (74%), and low and increasing calling (3%). Moreover, higher conscientiousness related to a higher chance of being classified into the high and stable calling trajectory. These findings add notable insights to the literature by exploring the previously neglected developmental trajectories of calling and their association with personality in the transition from university to work.

---

Latent profile analysis: A review and “how to” guide of its application within vocational behavior research

Spurk, D. , Hirschi, A., Valero, D., Wang, M., & Kauffeld, S. (2020). Latent profile analysis: A review and “how to” guide of its application within vocational behavior research. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 120, 103445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2020.103445

---

Abstract

Latent profile analysis (LPA) is a categorical latent variable approach that focuses on identifying latent subpopulations within a population based on a certain set of variables. LPA thus assumes that people can be typed with varying degrees of probabilities into categories that have different configural profiles of personal and/or environmental attributes. Within this article, we (a) review the existing applications of LPA within past vocational behavior research; (b) illustrate best practice procedures in a non-technical way of how to use LPA methodology, with an illustrative example of identifying different latent profiles of heavy work investment (i.e., working com- pulsively, working excessively, and work engagement); and (c) outline future research possibi- lities in vocational behavior research. By reviewing 46 studies stemming from central journals of the field, we identified seven distinct topics that have already been investigated by LPA (e.g., job and organizational attitudes and behaviors, work motivation, career-related attitudes and or- ientations, vocational interests). Together with showing descriptive statistics about how LPA has been conducted in past vocational behavior research, we illustrate and derive best-practice re- commendations for future LPA research. The review and “how to” guide can be helpful for all researchers interested in conducting LPA studies.

---