INFLUENCES OF EARLY CAREER EXPERIENCES, OCCUPATIONAL GROUP, AND NATIONAL CULTURE ON PROACTIVE CAREER BEHAVIOR

We know little about the influences of individual, historical, and sit uational characteristics on young workers' proactive career behaviors. This study examined the effects of early career experiences, occupati onal group membership, and national culture on proactive career behavi ors, including career planning, skill development, consultation, and n etworking. The study analyzed data from a longitudinal cross-national study on young workers from two occupational panels. The results confi rmed the cultural dependence of proactive behaviors. Moreover, employm ent-related early career experiences showed a positive effect on proac tive skill development and consultation behaviors. Periods of unemploy ment-inhibited proactive career planning and networking behaviors. Add itional significant contributions to skill development and consultatio n behaviors were found to be associated with occupational group member ship. Overall, a change in hierarchical position had a positive effect on proactive career behavior. (C) 1998 Academic Press.