How and when does CSE predict career satisfaction? The roles of career goals and embeddedness.

Responding to calls for analyzing the boundary conditions of the relationship between core self-evaluations (CSE) and subjective career success, we examined how CSE interacts with occupational embeddedness to predict career satisfaction. Based on self-verification theory and the concept of situational strength, we proposed a contingent path model in which CSE relates to subjective career success through positive goal emotions. Using a sample of 140 alumni of two business schools, we further examined whether the direct and indirect effects of CSE on career satisfaction are weakest when individuals are highly enmeshed within their occupations. A time-lagged study with three measurement waves largely supported our hypotheses, showing that high-CSE individuals were more satisfied with their careers because they associated more positive emotions with their career goals. However, a high degree of occupational embeddedness attenuated the indirect effect of the CSE-career satisfaction relationship through positive goal emotions and compensated for low levels of positive goal emotions. We discuss theoretical implications for research on CSE, career goals, and career success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]