Beyond one-size-fits-all in school-to-work transition success: The role of career competency profiles
Item type:Journal Article
Author:Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Y, Blokker, R., Akkermans, J., Khapova, S., Jansen, P.
Citation:Blokker, R., Akkermans, J., Nguyen, Y. N. N., Khapova, S., & Jansen, P. (2025). Beyond one-size-fits-all in school-to-work transition success: The role of career competency profiles. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 161, 104158.
Abstract:Although scholarly work has demonstrated that career competencies are essential for a successful school-to-work transition, individual differences in career competencies have rarely been studied. This is problematic, because it has prevented researchers from attaining a more fine-grained understanding of how specific patterns of career competencies may help different individuals navigate this transition successfully. Therefore, using latent profile analysis (LPA), this paper examines: (a) different configurations (i.e., profiles) of career competencies; (b) predictors of profile membership; and (c) the impact of these profiles on school-to-work transition outcomes. Sample 1 (n = 544) revealed six distinct career competency profiles that emerge in the final year of education: the underdeveloped, drifter, social explorer, seeker, navigator, and mature profiles. In addition to the level difference between the navigator and mature profiles, there were shape differences among the remaining profiles. Sample 2 (nT1 = 1388) replicated the six profiles and revealed that the career competency profiles in individuals' final year in education predicted employment status, perceived employability, underemployment, and perceived transition satisfaction one year after graduation. Results on age, sex, and work experience as predictors of profile membership were mixed. Overall, this study contributes to the school-to-work transition literature by highlighting the importance of considering individual differences in career competencies for school-to-work transition success.
