جهت گیری انگیزشی به عنوان واسطه در رابطه بین شخصیت و مشاغل گوناگون و بدون مرز  Motivational orientation as a mediator in the relationship between personality and protean and boundaryless  careers

1. Introduction Protean and boundaryless career orientation (PCO and BCO, respectively) have become salient in some organizations (Arthur, 1994; Baruch, 2004; Briscoe, Hall, & Demuth, 2006; Creed, Macpherson, & Hood, 2011a, 2011b; Hall, 2004; Sullivan & Baruch, 2009), as Savickas et al. (2009) called for career theories that fit modern economies more closely. This involves expecting less stability and job security, identifying ways to learn and enhance skills, and broadening relationships outside the organization (Carbery & Garavan, 2005; Clarke & Patrickson, 2008; Creed. et al., 2011; Trevor-Roberts, 2006). Some employees adapt to these dynamic conditions and adopt PCO and BCO easily. PCO and BCO are considered attitudes (Briscoe et al., 2006) and may not be stable; therefore, in predicting whether employees are likely to hold such attitudes, we cannot rely on direct measurement, as they could change. A robust measure is required to predict such attitudes. One predictor could be personality, which may offer inherent relative stability. Personality determines perceptions and reactions to the environment, which could include organizational settings. Therefore, personality is a possible predictor of PCO and BCO. Some studies have found correlations between personality and PCO and BCO (Briscoe et al., 2006; Mintz, 2003). However, the reason for these associations is unclear. One possible explanation may involve motivational orientation, which refers to the way in which individuals direct their goals, either by approaching them as a way of learning during the process of developing new skills, as suggested by learning goal orientation (LGO), or by focussing on their final performance and striving to achieve the goals, as performance goal orientation (PGO) implies (Elliot & McGregor, 2001). Indeed, Briscoe et al. (2006) reported correlations between LGO and PCO and BCO. This study aimed to broaden understanding of the association between personality and PCO and BCO mediated by goal orientation. This study was important, as an understanding of the association between personality characteristics and career orientation could assist organizational practitioners in selecting the best candidates in terms of PCO and BCO. Moreover, examining the mechanism underlying motivational mediation could elucidate this relationship.