Choose to be Optimistic, it Feels Better! The Role of Career Decision-making Self-efficacy on the Relationship between Boundaryless Career Orientation and Career Optimism

Drawing on the conservation of resources (CoR) theory, this study examined whether career decision-making self-efficacy (CDSE) intervenes in the association of employees’ boundaryless career orientation and career optimism. The study further sets out to assess the interactional contribution of employees’ consideration of distant future consequences—future (CFC-F) on the fore connection of employees’ CDSE and optimism. In this vein, data were collected from 211 electronic media employees through cluster sampling via an electronically administered questionnaire. SPSS 21 and SmartPLS 3.0 were used for preliminary data analyses and hypothesis testing, respectively. The results showed that CDSE significantly and positively intervened in the relationship between boundaryless career orientation and career optimism. Furthermore, the interactional effect of CFC-F was also found significant in a way that employees demonstrated a higher degree of career optimism at the higher levels of CFC-F. Hence, the premise of CoR theory that constructive resources (e.g., boundaryless career orientation) help individuals to gain other key resources (e.g., CDSE, optimism) was substantiated. Theoretical and practical implications of the study were also discussed.