PREDICTORS OF CAREER ADAPTABILITY SKILLS AMONG NEW JOB ENTRANTS

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to access the predictors of career adaptability skills among new job entrants. Career adaptability is preparedness to deal with the predictable tasks of preparing for and partaking in the work role and with the unpredictable adjustments impelled by changes in work and working environments. The study objectives were to investigate the relationship of career adaptability skills and vocational identity, perceived social support, person goal orientation and career self-efficacy sources, to examine how well vocational identity predict career adaptability skills among new job entrants, to examine how well personal goal orientation predict career adaptability skills, to examine the how well perceived social support predict career adaptability skills, to examine the how well career self-efficacy sources predict career adaptability skills. Data was collected from 300 students from engineering universities. Purposive sampling was used to determine the sample. The scales of measurement were Career Adapt-Abilities Scale-Italian Form, Occupational identity scale, Perceived social support, Person goal orientation scale and Careers self-efficacy scale. Data was coded numerically and analyzed using inferential statistical procedures of correlation and regression using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences version XXIII. Results indicated that there is a significant relationship between career adaptability skills, vocational identity, perceived social support, perceived goal orientation and career self-efficacy sources. Study found that vocational identity trajectories, perceived social support, person goal orientation and career self-efficacy sources are the significant predictors of career adaptability skills. Universities may consider career adaptability skills of their scholars more seriously by giving them career exploration database for them and also designing career intervention programs using career development experts.