Factors affecting career motivation of recent graduates: Career adaptability as a mediator

Abstract Career adaptability is a key resource for adapting to and transitioning into careers. However, gaps are found in the research on career adaptability. This study examined whether proactive personality, future‐proofing, psychological capital, and technology readiness predict career adaptability and whether career adaptability mediates the relationship between these predictors and career motivation. The data from 455 Malaysian recent university graduates found career adaptability to mediate the relationship between all predictors and career motivation. They positively affected career adaptability, which in turn, increased career motivation. While, in the presence of predictors of individual characteristics, technology readiness was not significant in predicting career adaptability, it predicted career motivation. The study recommends enhancing career adaptability and personal traits through interventions and training, stressing the importance of integrating technology into higher education to promote career motivation and readiness for adapting to the future work environment.