Never quite good enough: the paradox of sticky developmental relationships for elite university graduates

Higgins, Monica C., Dobrow, Shoshana R. ORCID: 0000-0002-3068-0129 and Chandler, Dawn (2008) Never quite good enough: the paradox of sticky developmental relationships for elite university graduates. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 72 (2). pp. 207-224. ISSN 0001-8791

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Abstract

Drawing on the mentoring, education, and social psychology literatures, this longitudinal study examines how the persistence of developmental relationships from an elite graduate school influences subjective career outcomes during early career. Participants (n = 136) were surveyed about their developmental networks—a group of individuals who take an active interest in and action to advance a focal individual’s career—and subjective career outcomes over the 10 years (1996–2006) post graduation. Results show that although receiving mentoring from one’s entire developmental network was positively related to career-related self-efficacy and perceptions of career success, this was not the case for ties retained from graduate school. Continuing to receive mentoring support from developers from graduate school and further, from peers from graduate school, was negatively related to perceptions of career success. These findings offer insight into the dynamics and potentially negative consequences of developmental networks and highlight the significance of social comparison during early career.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-vocati...
Additional Information:	© 2007 Elsevier Inc.
Divisions:	Management
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
Date Deposited:	08 Sep 2014 10:07
Last Modified:	03 Apr 2024 02:39
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/59411

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