Strategic career behaviours among european remote workers

: a general analysis and comparison based on country-level individualism vs collectivism

Abstract

This study investigates the antecedents and consequences of strategic careermanagement behaviours in a sample of European remote workers, with particular attentionpaid to country-level differences when controlling for Hofstede’sIndividualism/Collectivism. A total of 739 employees (Male = 442, 59.8%), with a meanage of 27.64 years (SD = 8.48; Range = [18, 70]), working mostly full-time (n = 398, 53.9%)and with 46.35% of their work being done remotely. The study tested perceived selfefficacy,desire for career control and perceived organizational support as predictors ofstrategic career behaviours. And tested strategic career behaviours as predictors of perceivedcareer control, objective and subjective career success, and career satisfaction. The studyalso investigated whether significant differences exist in the above factors when groupingby residence country’s score on Hofstede’s Individualism scale (Low[<50] = 286, 38.7%;Range = [27, 89]). Results indicate objective career success was not related to the antecedentvariables or strategic career behaviours and hence was removed from the model. Linearregression analysis showed mostly significant and positive relationships between factors inthe model. Mediation analysis showed mix results. Generally, perceived self-efficacy anddesire for career control are good predictors of the use of strategic career behaviours, butperceived organizational support is not; strategic career behaviours are reasonable predictorsof perceived control, and very strong predictors of subjective career success and careersatisfaction. Differences in these outcomes between the low/high individualism groups wereminimal. These results will support career management programs, accounting foridiosyncrasies of remote working and cultural differences that may affect the impact remotework has on career management.

Date of Award	27 Jun 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Joana Carneiro Pinto (Supervisor)