Contextual and personal resources in unemployed job search: An intra-individual perspective

Abstract

Drawing from conservation of resources (COR) theory and the equifinality principle, we challenge the prominent “the-more-resources-the-better” understanding by examining both the additive and interactive effects of contextual (i.e., networking behaviors and social support) and personal (i.e., job search self-efficacy) resources on job seeking. Specifically, based on COR theory's resource gain corollary, we propose that higher levels of each resource are positively related to job search intensity and the number of interviews obtained (an additive effect). However, based on the equifinality principle that various resources can contribute to the same goal, we propose that each type of resource can compensate for low levels of the other (an interactive effect). In a four-wave study following 89 unemployed job seekers over 6 months, we find positive intra-individual relationships between networking behaviors and job search self-efficacy with job search intensity. We find that networking behaviors and job search self-efficacy are also positively related to the number of job interviews obtained and indirectly related through job search intensity for networking behaviors. In line with our predictions, high levels of either networking behaviors or job search self-efficacy compensate for low levels of the other resource when predicting job search intensity and the number of interviews obtained.