The relationship between the self-esteem and employability attributes of postgraduate business management students

Abstract

<strong>Orientation:</strong> The effects of challenges (like decreased employment opportunities, increased personal responsibility to keep up with changes, current skill shortages and of retaining talented and skilled staff) have led to an emphasis on career meta-competencies to improve employability attributes.<p><strong>Research purpose:</strong> The objectives of the study were to determine the relationship between self-esteem (as the Culture Free Self-Esteem Inventory measures it) and employability attributes (as the Employability Attributes Scale measures it); to determine whether people’s biographical details significantly predict their self-esteem and employability attributes; and whether men and women differ significantly in their self-esteem and employability attributes.</p><p><strong>Motivation for the study: </strong>There seems to be a paucity of studies that investigate how people’s self-esteem relates to their employability attributes in South Africa’s multi-cultural context.</p><p><strong>Research design, approach and method:</strong> The researcher conducted a quantitative survey on a convenience sample of 304 employed adults enrolled for an honours degree in business management in a higher education institution. She used correlational statistics, multiple regression analyses, categorical regressions and independent <em>t</em>-tests to analyse the data.</p><p><strong>Main findings:</strong> The researcher found a number of significant relationships between the participants’ self-esteem and employability. The results showed that biographical details significantly predicted participants’ employability attributes.</p><p><strong>Practical/managerial implications:</strong> Career counsellors and human resource practitioners need to recognise how people’s self-esteem and their biographical details influence their employability attributes.</p><p><strong>Contribution/value-add:</strong> The findings add to the literature on the skills, abilities and biographical information that influence employability and give valuable information that organisations can use during career development support and career counselling practices in the contemporary world of work.</p><p><strong>How to cite this article:</strong> Potgieter, I. (2012). The relationship between the self-esteem and employability attributes of postgraduate business management students. <em>SA Journal of Human Resource Management/SA Tydskrif vir Menslikehulpbronbestuur, 10</em>(2), Art. #419, 15 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v10i2.419</p&gt

Applicant’s Self Confidence Influence in Employment Interview Process According to Recruiters Perceptions. An Exploratory Study in Greece

“…It reflects and affects their dealings with the environment and the people with whom they come into contact (Kernis, 2003). Potgieter, (2012), confirmed that career meta-competencies such as self-esteem, do influence employability attribute significantly. Hence, career development support practices and career counselling interventions could be exploited from anyone who wants to reinforce his employability.…”

Perceived employability and ability self among Finnish university students

“…It is even suggested that the whole notion of ability has been extended to embrace a set of skills habitually indistinguishable from personal characteristics, behaviours and attitudes, which in the past would rarely have been regarded as abilities at all (Payne 2000;Potgieter 2012). Accordingly, the concept of ability is also used as a generic notion in the present study, referring both to capabilities (e.g.…”

“…While the dimensions of ability self tended to reflect in students' employability perceptions, it is likely that they play a role during their studies and in the ways students deal with challenging study phases such as MA thesis work. There is also research evidence to show that self-perceived employability increases feelings of being in control of one's career (Potgieter 2012). Accordingly, we are basically dealing with students' self-confidence and learner's identity.…”

Developing career management competencies among undergraduates and the role of work-integrated learning

“…There is also broad acknowledgement and documented evidence that career management influences individual employability (Potgieter 2012;Raemdonck et al 2011) and 'how the individual perceives his or her opportunities in the labour market' (Berntson and Marklund 2007, 281). There is evidence, although Bridgstock (2009) argues somewhat limited, that skills in accessing and using relevant information on career roles, job applications and labour markets will positively impact on employment outcomes (Krug and Rebien 2011;Pegg et al 2012).…”