Early career outcomes of graduate employees: The effect of mentoring and ingratiation

Underpinned by the growing recognition of influence processes or a careerist orientation in the determination of career success, this study examined the effect of career-oriented mentoring, ingratiation and their interaction term on the career success measures of salary, number of promotions received and career satisfaction. Data were obtained through structured questionnaires from graduate employees (N = 432) working full-time in Hong Kong. Results of the ordinary least-squares regression analyses revealed a non-significant effect of career-oriented mentoring, ingratiation and their interaction term on salary. Career-oriented mentoring was, however, significantly positively related to number of promotions received and career satisfaction. Although the results reinforced the dominance of the traditional determinants of career success, the significant effect of career-oriented mentoring on two of the career success measures may help to paint a more realistic picture of the process of career success in organizations. Limitations of the study, directions for future research and implications of the findings are discussed.