3906 - THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORK VALUES AND EMPLOYABILITY: THE ROLE OF PROTEAN CAREER ORIENTATION IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Session: 3905 - FROM CAMPUS TO CAREER: PSYCHOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND VALUES FOR SUSTAINABLE AND PROACTIVE EMPLOYABILITY
AUTHORS:
Panari Chiara (University of Parma, Department of Economics and Management ~ Parma ~ Italy) , Bonini Alice (University of Parma, Department of Economics and Management ~ Parma ~ Italy) , Caricati Luca (University of Parma, Department of Humanistic Studies ~ Parma ~ Italy) , Tonelli Michela (IFOA - Institute for Training of Business Operators ~ Reggio Emilia ~ Italy) , De Caro Massimo (University of Parma, Department of Economics and Management ~ Parma ~ Italy)
Abstract text:
Introduction.
Research on university students showed that protean career orientation, focused on the sense of responsibility in managing their career based on personal values, is becoming increasingly important to one's career development in the dynamic business environment, and is strictly related to employability. Meanwhile, employability has a central role in the evaluation of new career opportunities that fit with one's values and goals. In this sense, the study of the system of work values plays an important role in understanding how people pursue their work goals.


Purpose.
This study aims to examine the mediating role of protean career orientation between intrinsic and extrinsic work values and perceived employability in graduate students.


Method.
A self-report online questionnaire was sent to a sample of 120 university students (57.4% female; Mean Age = 22.7, SD = 2.54). We tested our hypotheses using the PROCESS macro. To be specific, Model 4 was performed to test the mediating role of a protean career between each work value (three intrinsic values and three extrinsic values) and perceived employability. The six mediational analyses were performed separately.


Results.
The results showed that the influence of intrinsic work values on perceived employability was mediated by protean career orientation. Self-achievement, risk, and freedom had an impact on protean career orientation that, in turn, influenced students' perception of employability - even if the mediation was not total. On the contrary, extrinsic work values, such as approval from others and facilitating work conditions in terms of location and informal context, lead people to underestimate both their own skills and, as well, opportunities within the labour market.


Conclusions.
These results highlight the role of protean career orientation as a mechanism linking personal values to employability. Interventions fostering self-directedness, clarity of values, and proactive goal setting could strengthen students' adaptive career behaviors and readiness for sustainable employability.