On lemons and lemonade: the effect of positive and negative career shocks on thriving

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how positive affectivity (PA) moderates the indirect effects of positive and negative career shocks – unplanned and often unexpected external events whose effects cannot be anticipated or countered – on thriving via career adaptability.Design/methodology/approachThe authors empirically tested the moderated mediation model with a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The study was performed with a valid sample of professionals who had experienced work-related career shocks.FindingsThe results indicated that career adaptability mediated the effects of positive and negative career shocks on thriving. In addition, the slope of the relationship between negative shocks and adaptability became positive for high levels of PA. The authors also found an indirect effect of negative career shocks on thriving at all levels of PA and importantly, when PA was high, the effects of negative shocks on thriving became positive.Practical implicationsIndividuals may use emotional reappraisal strategies to counter negative feelings that accompany negative events to mitigate the negative effects of such events. By strengthening their positivity, individuals facilitate their own perception of shocks, thereby minimizing the possibility of a decrease in adaptability resources.Originality/valueThis paper advances understanding of those mechanisms through which negative shocks lead to positive effects that can help individuals improve their career adaptability and thrive.

The why, what and how of career research: a review and recommendations for future study

“…Shocks may push or pull people from their original or desired career path, causing them to change occupations or abandon goals (Kindsiko and Baruch, 2019). Career shocks may also affect people's ability to thrive (Mansur and Felix, 2020).…”

Dust yourself off and try again: the positive process of career changes or shocks and career resilience

“…Depending on the appraisal of individuals, the need for and use of resilience changes (Britt et al, 2016) which eventually affects career construction (cfr. Mansur and Felix, 2020). For example, while individuals might act very agentic and want to actively shape their career, an unforeseen event like missed promotion is likely to require an adjustment of ambitions and actions but also affects the narrative of one's career.…”

The role of career shocks in contemporary career development: key challenges and ways forward

“…This special issue's second article features a cross-sectional quantitative study among 207 Brazilian employees. Mansur and Felix (2021) investigated whether positive and negative career shocks would relate to thriving and whether career adaptability played a role in this relationship. Using career shock items based on Seibert et al (2013), they find that career adaptability mediates the relationship between career shocks and thriving.…”

“…In their conceptual article, Akkermans et al (2018) delineated several attributes, including valence, frequency, predictability, duration and source. The special issue articles contribute to some of these, most notably including positive and negative career shocks (Mansur and Felix, 2021; Rummel et al , 2021). In addition, Pak et al (2021) contribute to the source attribute to point to a difference between work-related and private career shocks.…”