The differential influence of vocational orientation on job success and work motivation: results of a 6-year longitudinal study

Maier GW, Wastian M, von Rosenstiel L. Der differenzielle Einfluss der Berufsorientierungen auf Berufserfolg und Arbeitsmotivation: Ergebnisse einer Längsschnittstudie über 6 Jahre. Zeitschrift für Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie. 2009;53(3):104-120.This study examined the longitudinal influence of vocational orientations ( career, leisure, and social reformer orientation) on indicators of extrinsic job success and work motivation in a sample of 833 persons with a major in economics or engineering/natural science. Vocational orientations were assessed shortly before graduating from university ( time 1). At time 2, when participants had been employed for 5.6 years, extrinsic job success ( salary), motivational attitudes ( job involvement, organizational identification), and engagement ( working hours, organizational citizenship behavior) were measured. Longitudinal comparisons between the two groups using a multi-group path analysis demonstrated overall predictive validity of the vocational orientations. Moreover, the long-term effect of career orientation on attitudes and engagement was considerably stronger for participants who had majored in economics than for engineers/scientists