Understanding vocational passion and learning goal orientation: workplace training and learning implications

Abstract

Vocational passion and learning goal orientation are both critical for individuals to perform well in vocational fields in the long run. Drawing upon self-regulation theory and social learning theory, this study explores how these two predictors influence job performance by simultaneously examining job self-efficacy as a mediator and job experience as a moderator. Empirical analyses are performed using the data of workers in a large computer and communication company in Taiwan. This study discovers that job experience has double-edged effects in the development of job self-efficacy. On the one hand, individuals with more job experiences possess greater wisdom that may inspire a sense of meaningful connection towards their vocation (i.e. being more susceptible to vocational passion). On the other hand, their continuous learning motivation to achieve job performance goals is more likely to decline with more job experiences they overly rely upon (i.e. being less susceptible to learning goal orientation).