The Role of Emotion in Job Search Behavior Among College Students

Korean college students preparing to enter the world of work are going through a long-term process of job searching. During the process, individuals experience various emotions, which can motivate (or demotivate) them to keep going. The present study, grounded in motivational systems theory, examined the roles of emotions in job search behavior. A sample of 116 college students, who were seeking a job for the first time, participated. Using three-wave longitudinal data and multilevel modeling, within- and between-person-level associations were examined. The outcome variables were job search behavior and the number of resumes submitted. The results showed that individuals who experience more positive emotions and negative emotions were more likely to engage in job search behavior at both the within- and between-person levels. However, the number of resumes submitted was not significantly related to positive or negative emotions. The implications of the study were discussed.