Career and employer change in the age of the ‘boundaryless’ career

This study examined the direct effect of individual career concerns on career and employer change intention, as well as the buffering influence of organisational commitment on this relationship, based on the AMO model of behavioural change intention. Survey data, collected from 341 employees across industry sectors in Australia, showed that ‘exploration’ concerns related positively to both employer and career change intentions; the impact of exploration concerns on career change intention was buffered by affective commitment, however, and reinforced by normative commitment. ‘Establishment’ concerns related negatively to career change intention, and this effect was also buffered by level of affective commitment. The results point towards the distinct nature of employer and career change, and prompt calls for further research on the interplay of the myriad of factors that influence boundary-crossing career behaviour.

► We examined factors influencing boundary-crossing of career and employer change.
► Exploration concerns positively related to both employer and career change intention.
► Affective commitment buffered the impact of exploration concerns on career change intention.
► Normative commitment reinforced the impact of exploration concerns on career change intention.
► Different pattern of results for career change and organisation change.