Is protean career orientation related to digital networking? The role of digital technology competencies

Even though digital networking has been identified as an important behavior for career development, research to date has been limited. With the technological ubiquity, digital networking has become a common behavior. However, little is known about how individuals create and expand their digital network. Integrating research on networking, protean career orientation and digital competencies, we propose a model relating protean career orientation and digital networking via digital competencies. A study based on 213 students supports that digital networking is composed of two dimensions: building and using. We then investigate the theoretical model wherein protean career orientation leads to digital networking through digital competencies on a sample of 472 students. These researches shed light on digital competencies as a mechanism explaining the effects of protean career orientation on digital networking. It also provides information to career counselors, university staff and academics to maximize digital networking in order to positively influence career development.