Surviving uncertainty: A dual-path model of personal initiative affecting graduate employability

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Economics
• Psychology

Background:

• Graduate employability is crucial for university students facing uncertain employment.
• Previous research often overlooked dynamic contexts, limiting understanding of employability development.
• Action theory offers a framework to explore personal initiative's role in employability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how personal initiative influences graduate employability in uncertain environments.
• To examine the mediating roles of human and psychological capital.
• To understand the moderating effect of environmental uncertainty on this relationship.

Main Methods:

• A time-lagged research design was employed.
• Data were collected from 229 Chinese university students.
• Hypothesized relationships were statistically tested.

Main Results:

• Personal initiative positively impacts graduate employability via human and psychological capital.
• Environmental uncertainty strengthens the indirect effect of personal initiative on employability.
• The findings highlight the contingent nature of personal initiative's influence.

Conclusions:

• Personal initiative is a key driver of graduate employability, particularly in uncertain times.
• Human and psychological capital are crucial mediators in this process.
• Universities and students can leverage personal initiative to enhance career readiness.