Focusing on the literature on the positive effects of perceived overqualification, the study presents a theoretical model to examine how and when perceived overqualification motivates employees' proactive career behaviors. Grounded in cognitive dissonance theory, this study proposes that perceived overqualification positively influences career concern, particularly among employees with a strong occupational future time perspective. In turn, heightened career concern is expected to foster proactive career behaviors.
We conducted a multi-wave study (N = 291) among employees in a manufacturing company in China to test our hypotheses.
Results reveal that perceived overqualification is positively related to career concern, which in turn influences employees' proactive career behaviors. Occupational future time perspective moderates not only the relationship between perceived overqualification and career concern but also the indirect effect of perceived overqualification on proactive career behaviors via career concern. Employees who perceive high levels of occupational future time perspective exhibit an increase in career concern after experiencing perceived overqualification. This increase in career concern further enhances their proactive career behaviors.
Our research findings clarify the pathway and boundary conditions through which perceived overqualification positively influences proactive career behaviors, thereby offering significant implications for both theory and practice.
