Does negotiating dreams open doors? How structural constraints moderate the mixed effects of career inflexibility on an individual’s perceived employability

Abstract Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the moderating role of structural constraint on the direct and indirect effects—via effort perseverance and consistency of interests—of career inflexibility on employability. Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating how career inflexibility can negatively impact employability, considering both individual-level factors (perseverance of effort and consistency of interests) and contextual-level factors (structural constraints). Design/methodology/approach: The research used a descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional design. The final sample consisted of 545 responses, selected using convenience sampling and the snowball method. The data analysis technique used was structural equation modeling with partial least squares (PLS) estimation. Findings: The results verified a negative direct effect between career inflexibility and perseverance of effort and an indirect adverse impact of career inflexibility on employability via perseverance of effort. Additionally, a moderating effect was identified for perceived structural constraints on the mediating relationship of perseverance of effort, and no significant results were found for the impact via consistency of interests.