Premium
Human capital and objective indicators of career success: The mediating effects of cognitive ability and conscientiousness
Author(s) -
Ng Thomas W. H.,
Feldman Daniel C.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of occupational and organizational psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 2044-8325
pISSN - 0963-1798
DOI - 10.1348/096317909x414584
Subject(s) - conscientiousness , psychology , human capital , structural equation modeling , cognition , big five personality traits , social psychology , job satisfaction , personality , job performance , work (physics) , economics , extraversion and introversion , statistics , mathematics , neuroscience , economic growth , mechanical engineering , engineering
The purpose of the current study is to examine the mediating processes through which human capital (e.g. education and work experience) contribute to objective indicators of career success (e.g. salaries and promotions). We are particularly interested in the ways in which cognitive ability and conscientiousness help explain the process through which human capital gets translated into performance effectiveness and tangible career attainments. Results from meta‐analytical structural equation modelling show that individuals' cognitive ability and conscientiousness mediate the effects of both education and organizational tenure on in‐role and extra‐role job performance. Ultimately, both in‐role and extra‐role job performance positively influence employees' salaries and promotions. The article concludes with implications for theory development and management practice.