Situational characteristics and subjective career success - The mediating role of career-enhancing strategies

This paper examined the role of career-enhancing strategies (CESs) as mediators of the relationship between situation-centred characteristics (e.g. career prospects) and subjective career success. CESs included self-nomination, networking behaviour and consultation with mentors. Subjective career success was measured using two criteria, intrinsic job success and perceived career success. Questionnaire data was collected from 283 full-time support personnel in the UK. Results provided partial support for the mediating role of CESs between situational characteristics and subjective career success. Specific CESs played a mediating role in the relationship between specific situation-centred variables and intrinsic job success. Self-nomination and networking played a mediating role between career prospects and intrinsic job success. Networking also played a mediating role between security and intrinsic job success. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed, together with avenues for further research.