Career implications for high-quality work relationships: an SCCT test
Journal of Managerial Psychology
ISSN: 0268-3946
Article publication date: 23 September 2019
Issue publication date: 23 September 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Researchers recognize that interpersonal relationships contribute to the career development of professional employees. The purpose of this paper is to extend this research to individuals working at a formative point in their careers. Guided by Social Cognitive Career Theory, a model is developed that tests whether the quality of individuals’ work relationships at an early career stage has implications for their development of career cognitions and career exploration behaviors.
Design/methodology/approach
Structural equation modeling is used to test the model in two samples of employed students (n=372 and n=166).
Findings
Coworker relationship quality had a direct influence on career self-efficacy, which led to increased career outcome expectations, goals and exploration behaviors. The influence of supervisor relationship quality was mixed across studies.
Research limitations/implications
Findings suggest that the quality of individuals’ relational experiences at work, even at an early career stage, has implications that extend beyond the workplace to affect their careers more generally.
Practical implications
Results speak to the dangers associated with a poor interpersonal climate for employees at an early career stage, and suggest that managers invest in opportunities that allow these employees to build stronger bonds with coworkers. The results also suggest that career counselors and internship coordinators be sensitive to the interpersonal climate of organizations with whom they contract.
Originality/value
This study offers insight into the connection between early employment experiences and individuals’ career cognitions and career exploration behaviors.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Associate Editor Sylvie Guerrero and two anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful and developmental feedback, along with Jenny Park for her assistance in the preparation of this paper. This paper also benefited from the helpful feedback received at the 2018 Positive Relationships at Work Micro-community Meeting, as well as the 2019 Western Academy of Management Annual Conference.
Citation
Ehrhardt, K. and Sharif, M.M. (2019), "Career implications for high-quality work relationships: an SCCT test", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 34 No. 7, pp. 474-490. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-10-2018-0443
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited