Psychologically empowered during the job search: How empowering counseling affects job search process quality

Computerization, environmental challenges, and the economic slowdown related to COVID-19 are expected to result in an increased number of job seekers in the near future. Although the quality of the job search process has been theoretically and empirically linked to job search success and employment quality, research on the determinants of job search process quality has been scarce. The present study uses the self-regulatory model of job search process quality to propose empowering counseling and psychological empowerment during the job search as promoting factors of job search process quality. Data was collected in a sample of clients at an outplacement agency at two separate points in time, 12 weeks apart. In total, 128 clients completed both questionnaires. The results of a moderated mediation analysis suggest that empowering counseling had a positive, indirect effect on job search process quality through psychological empowerment. This indirect effect was moderated by the bond with the counselor, such that the effect was stronger when the bond with the counselor was stronger. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement What's It Mean? Implications for Consulting Psychology -This research considers career counselors to be sources of instrumental and emotional social support for job seekers. An empowering counseling style is shown to be positively associated with psychological empowerment during the job search. Through psychological empowerment, empowering counseling is indirectly associated with the quality of the job search process. Counselors are advised to invest in relationships with their clients to enhance the indirect effect of empowering counseling on job search process quality. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)