The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between career resilience and career beliefs among employees in Taiwan. This study also examined whether selected demographic variables had effects on career resilience and career beliefs. A pilot study involving 178 participants was conducted in Taiwan to validate the instruments used in the main study. Twenty items were selected for measuring career resilience. These items were taken from London's Career Motivation Inventory (1993b), Noe, R. A., Noe, A. W., and Bachhuber's measures of career motivation (1990), and Michigan's Career Resilience Scale (Bice, 1999, January 24-30). Forty-nine items consisting of 10 subscales in the Career Beliefs Scale were adopted from Yang's Chinese Career Beliefs Inventory-Form B (1996). The study had 578 current employees from diverse work settings in Taiwan. Career resilience scores were negatively correlated with the total career beliefs scores (r = -.22, p less then .01), which indicated that participants who were higher on career resilience tended to possess fewer irrational career beliefs. Career resilience scores were negatively correlated with belief in fate, avoidance of decision making, the belief that some occupations are more prestigious than others, possessing sex role stereotypes, assuming other's help can determine the best choice, and the belief that salary is the primary concern when making career choices. Career resilience scores were positively correlated with the belief that one should find the best-fit career and that work is very important in one's life. However, the magnitudes of coefficients were small (the absolute r values were all less than .40). The results of ANOVA showed that gender, education, type of institution, recent participation in training/educational activities, and supervisory experience yielded statistically significant main effects in career resilience scores. Additionally, there was a significant interaction effect on career resilience for gender by education. MANOVA results showed that gender, age, educational levels, types of institutions, supervisory experience, career change, and recent participation in training activities yielded statistically significant differences among career beliefs. Discriminant analyses were applied to further investigate the differences among the 10 career belief subscales for the significant demographic variables.

The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of whether or not, and how teachers in a resource-constrained rural school sustain their motivation in and commitment to teaching over a life-span. The Social Cognitive Career Theory was chosen as theoretical framework because it recognises the importance that factors in the environment play when the career paths of individuals unfold. A conceptual framework for ‘teacher career resilience’ was developed by merging current thinking on resilience, teacher resilience and career resilience. The life-history design was framed methodologically as biographical research with participatory principles. Teacher participants (n=5, 3=female and 2=male) were selected according to purposive sampling. Data were generated through participatory interview-conversations, which were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, as well as memory books, joint photograph-taking and field notes in a researcher diary. Five themes emerged from the guided phenomenological analysis process (Hycner, 1985) and narrative comparison. First, this study exposes illiteracy of learners’ parents, demotivated learners, and a negative national teacher fraternity as sources of adversity not previously noted as significant for teachers in rural settings. Second, rural teachers in this study drew strength from their own life experiences of adversity (being from rural areas themselves); and they relied on their own agency in problem solving. Third, in addition participating rural teachers make use of encouraging memories of their own teachers from childhood and partake in informal professional development activities such as collaborative peer discussions rather than mentoring to grow professionally. Fourth, participating teachers in rural resource-constrained South Africa thus use similar internal protective resources (problem solving, strategizing, cognitive restructuring and emotional regulation) in their adaptive coping repertoire to those of other teachers globally. Fifth, teachers did not enter the teaching profession in the same way as has been documented elsewhere; but entered the teaching profession as a result of socio-political and financial influences, chance happenings and the influence of significant teachers in their past. Teachers seem to balance their use of protective resources between internal and external resources in their current practice. Over time, however they draw more on internal protective resources. Teachers conceptualised their teacher career resilience on a continuum: persevering through adversity, both as young children, and as growing professionals. They use their self-efficacy beliefs, embedded in an adversity drenched past, to manage, overcome and cope despite current chronic adversity. Teachers’ overt behavior in adaptive coping processes was dependent on the interrelatedness between their attributes (especially internal protective resources), the environment (chronic adversity) and the continuous loop of influence (appraisal) between these three factors. Teachers became skilled in resilience processes because of the chronic adversity they face. Teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs about their adaptive coping extended beyond what they themselves can achieve to what their efforts in teaching may mean to model hope to learners, as their teachers modelled to them, fostering a certain altruistic career anchor. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

D. Litt. et Phil. / Factor analytic techniques were used to investigate the psychometric properties of three measuring instruments, namely the Adult Career Concerns Inventory (Super, Thompson & Lindeman, 1988), the Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory (Holland & Gottfredson, 1994), and the Career Resilience Questionnaire (Fourie & Van Vuuren, 1998). The analyses served the purpose of elucidating the conceptual meanings of the constructs of career concerns, career status and career resilience in adult vocational adjustment. In an exploratory factor analysis of the Adult Career Concerns Inventory theoretical considerations suggested the extraction of four factors which explained 74% of the variance in the correlation matrix. The communalities of the variables were determined by means of squared multiple correlations of the subscales. On oblique rotation by means of Promax, a four factor solution was supported, reflecting the underlying dimensions of Exploration, Establishment, Maintenance and Disengagement. High correlations among the factors suggested the presence of a general factor, which may be termed career concerns. A factor extension analysis indicated the high quality of the test items, and a high level of correspondence between the Maintenance and Establishment factors. Maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analyses of the Adult Career Concerns Inventory were subsequently performed to test four and three factor measurement models. The estimated standardised factor pattern coefficients of both the models were found to be statistically significant. High correlations between the Maintenance and Establishment factors from the four factor model however favoured the three factor model, which allows for the merging of these two latent dimensions. In an exploratory factor analysis of the Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory use were made of constructed item parcels. Theoretical considerations suggested the extraction of nine factors, which accounted for 54% of the variance in the correlation matrix. The squared multiple correlations of the Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory item parcels were used to determine the initial communalities, and the nine factors were obliquely rotated by means of Promax. With the exception of two of the parcels, the factor pattern coefficients indicated that all the item parcels could be explained by nine factors that correspond with the Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory subscales, namely Job Satisfaction, Career Worries, Family Commitment, Interpersonal Abuse, Skill Development, Geographical Barriers, Risk-taking Style, Work Involvement, and Dominant Style. The relative independence of these factors were inferred from the interfactor correlation matrix. A factor extension analysis indicated the overall high quality of the test items. A maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analysis of the Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory at item parcel-level was based on a measurement model in accordance with the nine factors mentioned above. This analysis supported the nine factor model and revealed interesting relations among the dimensions of the Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory. An exploratory factor analysis of the Career Resilience Questionnaire at item-level was also performed. Although the Kaiser criterion suggested the extraction of as many as 15 factors, and the MAP values suggested six factors, the initial communalities based on the squared multiple correlations were also considered. The initial communalities were reiterated twice, and the residual four factors accounted for 27% of the variance. An oblique rotation of the factors by means of Promax resulted in the tentative labelling of four latent dimensions, namely Leadership, Sense of Security in One’s Career, Acceptance of Uncertainty, and Values. These factors had satisfactory reliability coefficients, but no significant intercorrelations. Due to the theoretical inadequacies of this analysis, an oblique multiple groups factor analysis of the Career Resilience Questionnaire was performed in an attempt to cross-validate the factor solution reported by Fourie and Van Vuuren (1998). Low reliability coefficients of the factors were however obtained, an the postulated measurement model could not be supported. In an interbattery factor analysis of the Adult Career Concerns Inventory and the Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory both theory and reliability coefficients of various factor solutions were considered, which resulted in the extraction of six factors. The factors were rotated obliquely by means of Direct Quartimin. The resultant factor solution met theoretical expectations by indicating several shared dimensions of the two instruments. Implementation, Advancing, Holding and Updating were grouped with Career Worries and Risk-taking Style. Job Satisfaction related negatively in a shared dimension with Crystallisation, Specification, Implementation, Retirement Planning and Retirement Living. Innovation was associated with Work Involvement, Skill Development and Dominant Style. Stabilisation, Risk-Taking Style and Geographical Barriers formed a shared dimension. Deceleration and Interpersonal Abuse were likewise associated. Lastly, Family Commitment and Updating shared a negative relation within another dimension. In essence, these factor analyses support the construct validity, theoretical generalisability, and usefulness of both the Adult Career Concerns Inventory and the Career Attitudes and Strategies Inventory, but fails to support the construct validity of the Career Resilience Questionnaire. Moreover, a foundation has been laid for the theoretical integration of the constructs of career concerns and career status.

The objectives of the research were: (1) to establish the relationship between individuals’ emotional affect, career resilience and their career orientations, (2) to explore the moderating role of emotional affect in the career resilience-career orientations relationship, and (3) to determine if employees from different years of service, occupational level, gender, age and race groups differ significantly in relation to their emotional affect, career resilience and career anchors. A convenience sample (N = 143) of predominantly black African people (86%) and staff level (80%) employees with more than 10 years of service (60%) participated in the study (mean age: 41 years; men: 52%; women: 48%). Correlational analysis showed significant associations between the variables. Hierarchical moderated regression analysis indicated high positive affect as a significant moderator of the career resilience-managerial competence career anchor relationship. High negative affect and low negative affect significantly weakened the career resilience-entrepreneurial creativity, career resilience-pure challenge and career resilience-lifestyle relationships. Significant differences were detected between the years of service, age and race groups regarding the variables. The findings may potentially inform the career development of employees in the Public Service / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The research focuses on investigating the relationship between individuals’ career adaptability, employability attributes and retention factors within the context of talent retention in the 21st century workplace. A quantitative research approach was followed, and a probability sample of (N = 337) of single (42.7%), African (53.4%), female (65.9%), individuals between the ages of 26-40 years (57.4%), who are part time employees (50.7%), mostly at staff level (54.0%) were utilised. Correlational analysis indicated differences between the variables of CAI, EAS and RFMS. Inferential statistics showed a strong relationship between the variables of career adaptability, employability attributes and retention factors. Stepwise hierarchical regression analysis showed that age, gender, race, marital status and job level, their career adaptability and employability attributes significantly and positively predict retention factors. Test for mean differences revealed that males and females differed significantly in terms of their career adaptability, employability attributes and retention factors. Recommendations are suggested for use by human resource professionals in terms of retention practices. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business management)

The objectives of the research were: (1) to establish the relationship between individuals’ emotional affect, career resilience and their career orientations, (2) to explore the moderating role of emotional affect in the career resilience-career orientations relationship, and (3) to determine if employees from different years of service, occupational level, gender, age and race groups differ significantly in relation to their emotional affect, career resilience and career anchors. A convenience sample (N = 143) of predominantly black African people (86%) and staff level (80%) employees with more than 10 years of service (60%) participated in the study (mean age: 41 years; men: 52%; women: 48%). Correlational analysis showed significant associations between the variables. Hierarchical moderated regression analysis indicated high positive affect as a significant moderator of the career resilience-managerial competence career anchor relationship. High negative affect and low negative affect significantly weakened the career resilience-entrepreneurial creativity, career resilience-pure challenge and career resilience-lifestyle relationships. Significant differences were detected between the years of service, age and race groups regarding the variables. The findings may potentially inform the career development of employees in the Public Service / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Text in English / This research investigated the ability of employees to survive experiences of major career changes and how they managed to build career resilience during the process. Adopting an action research approach, it continues to research the role the church can play in this process, suggesting ways in which the exponents of practical theology, and more specifically, pastoral ministries can extend their role into non- or de-institutionalised areas, becoming industrial or organisational pastoral professionals in their own right. The second research question investigated ways in which career resilience can improve agency in upholding values in the face of the employee exploitation onslaught? A narrative approach was used and discourses of ethics and power were discussed. It was indicated how these could be subjected to a process of deconstruction to create alternative and preferred career stories. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology - with specialisation in Pastoral Theraphy)

The research focused on the relationship between hardiness and career adaptability of students studying at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges in Gauteng. A quantitative survey was conducted on a convenience sample of (N = 198) of African (92.9%), female (57.6%), single (96.0%), aged 21 years and younger (93.9%) students enrolled at Gauteng TVET colleges for N1 – N6 Engineering Studies (32.8%). A correlational analysis indicated differences between the variables of hardiness and career adaptability and the study reveals that overall hardiness was significantly related to overall career adaptability. A stepwise regression analysis indicated that gender and the hardiness attributes (commitment, control and challenge) predicted career adaptability. The test for significant mean differences indicated that age, gender and field of study differ significantly between the variables of hardiness and career adaptability. Limitations for the study are outlined. Furthermore, recommendations are suggested for use by human resource regarding career development practices for TVET college students. The study concludes with an evaluation of its contribution. / Human Resource Management / M. Com. (Human Resource Management)

Text in English / This research investigated the ability of employees to survive experiences of major career changes and how they managed to build career resilience during the process. Adopting an action research approach, it continues to research the role the church can play in this process, suggesting ways in which the exponents of practical theology, and more specifically, pastoral ministries can extend their role into non- or de-institutionalised areas, becoming industrial or organisational pastoral professionals in their own right. The second research question investigated ways in which career resilience can improve agency in upholding values in the face of the employee exploitation onslaught? A narrative approach was used and discourses of ethics and power were discussed. It was indicated how these could be subjected to a process of deconstruction to create alternative and preferred career stories. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology - with specialisation in Pastoral Theraphy)

Rapid forces for change in the post-modern society have left their mark on the labour market, creating a metamorphosis in the nature of work and the way in which careers should be approached. This has resulted in the need for individuals to possess a combination of attributes that will enable them to take an adaptive, proactive approach to their careers, which involves managing their employability. Employability is especially relevant to graduates, who are expected to acquire more than academic capabilities to ‘hit the ground running’ in their transition from higher education to the workplace. Despite the significance of the topic, it remains conceptually ambiguous with few empirical studies that explain its foundation, and fewer still that have constructed a measure explicitly gauging employability, particularly in South Africa. The main purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a measure of graduate employability in the context of the new world of work. A theoretical model of graduate employability was developed based on an extensive review of the literature and the Graduate Employability Measure (GEM) was subsequently constructed. A cross-sectional survey was utilised to collect data from a random sample of final-year undergraduates and postgraduates from the College of Economic and Management Sciences at a higher distance learning institution in South Africa. The 272 useable questionnaires returned were subjected to exploratory factor analysis, which revealed a reliable three-factor model consisting of the dimensions of career self-management drive, career resilience and cultural competence, and explaining 36.42%, 3.5% and 2.97% of the variance respectively. Analysis of variance was used to determine whether there were any significant differences between the biographical variables of the sample and the GEM factors. It was found that females and final-year undergraduates obtained significantly higher means on all the GEM dimensions than males and postgraduates respectively. The findings inform the conceptualisation of the employability construct, the elements it consists of, and how it can be measured in a valid and reliable manner. The GEM has the potential to be useful to students in a career guidance context, to employers that desire to select and develop highly adaptable employees, and to higher education, which can incorporate these important employability attributes in the curriculum to deliver highly employable graduates. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted