Assessing Career Search Self-Efficacy: Construct Evidence and Developmental Antecedents

Evidence in support of career search self-efficacy as a construct is provided through a review of relevant empirical literature. Career search self-efficacy involves one's beliefs about one's own ability to successfully perform career exploration activities. Empirical research supports career search self-efficacy as a construct related to but separate from, agentic personality traits and as related to a number of career outcomes such as career exploration and vocational identity. Empirical research also supports the importance of agency, family processes, identity, and the environment as determinants of career search self-efficacy. A model linking the sources of career search self- efficacy with the effects of career search self-efficacy provides a number of avenues for future research.