Abstract:

Careerist orientation is defined as the propensity to pursue career advancement through non-performance-based means. Employee with a careerist orientation have career goals that are inconsistent with the interests of the organization in the long run. They believe that it is difficult to advance in organizations through merit alone, it is necessary to engage in strategy of organizational politics behavior, impression management, even deception which will ensure a promotion. Many factors such as trust in employer, an individual’s perceptions of organizational justice, perceived opportunities of career growth, five-factor model personality traits, Machiavellianism and the primary psychopathy, would influence the employees to adopt the career development attitude of careerist orientation. A careerist orientation to work is negatively related to many variables (job satisfaction, life satisfaction, work motivation, job involvement and organizational commitment), and positively related to turnover intentions. Some major directions for future research are put forward.

Key words: careerist orientation, non-performance-based means, career development