Job search in a difficult labour market: linking goal orientation to job search strategies and outcomes with the moderating role of self-control

Abstract

This study addresses how goal orientation relates to different job search strategies to increase the chance of finding employment and quality jobs. We integrate the goal orientation theory with self-control to examine how the orientation of goals (i.e., performance-prove goal orientation (PPGO), performance-avoid goal orientation (PAGO) and learning goal orientation (LGO)) are associated with job search strategies (i.e., Focused Job Search Strategy- FJSS, Exploratory Job Search Strategy-EJSS, and Haphazard Job Search Strategy-HJSS) and how self-control moderates the process. In a three-wave study ( n T1 = 859; n T2 = 720; n T3 = 418), the hypotheses were tested using unemployed job seekers in Ghana. The results from the structural equation model show that learning goal oriented job seekers were inclined to search more focused and exploratory but engaged in less haphazard search. While PPGO facilitated EJSS, job seekers with PAGO searched more haphazardly but their search behaviour was less focused and exploratory. In addition, EJSS contributed to attending more job interviews, but HJSS decreased the chance of obtaining job interviews. Also, the interviews attended were associated with job offered, which in turn led to obtaining employment. Both FJSS and EJSS were related to employment quality but HJSS decreased employment quality. Interestingly, individual differences in self-control were found to moderate the relation between goal orientation and job search strategy. The use of EJSS was found to be more beneficial in difficult labour markets.

Self-directed learning and job exploration among Nepalese youth: South Asian perspective

“…Studies show that several factors influence the attitude of unemployed individuals toward seeking employment and their subjective norms. These fachttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/kpm.07 (1).2023.10 tors include their perception of the effectiveness of job-seeking in securing reemployment, their perception of economic difficulties, the support they receive from their significant other (typically their spouse) in terms of acknowledging the importance of job-seeking activities, and the perception of the significance of different job-seeking behaviors and subjective norms associated with job seeking by essential individuals in their lives (Chawla et al, 2019;Creed et al, 2009;Ghanizadeh, 2017). Furthermore, the study by Wanberg et al (1999) showed noteworthy associations among many factors, including employment assurance, financial distress, motivation control, job-search self-efficacy, and job-search intensity.…”