Career success is not always an outcome: its mediating role between competence employability model and perceived employability

Purpose Career success has been understood as an outcome of career goals, achievement and employability resources. Recent research has enlightened its potential effect on career decisions and perceived employability. This paper aims to test the role of career success in the relationship between competence employability and perceived employability. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was answered by 1,087 graduates from a large nonselective higher education institution that enrolls a significant number of first generation and lower socioeconomic background students. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the mediating role of career success, as was proposed. Findings Subjective career success partially mediates the relationship between competence employability model and perceived employability. However, objective career success was not related to perceived employability. Research limitations/implications The study made use of a cross-sectional design, which hinders the identification of causal direction. Practical implications For training and education, both employability competences and subjective career success are resources to enhance in order to promote employee's personal beliefs about obtaining and maintaining employment. Originality/value This study combines different employability approaches, and their relationship with career success, considering subjective and objective career success as relevant personal resources that could impact self-perceptions and foster career behaviors. Testing the utility of these theoretical models on a group that has been underrepresented in career development studies is also relevant, particularly, the use of gain spiral concept from Conservation of Resources theory.