Personnel Psychology and Security The Influence of Person-Job Fit on the Associations of Individual Employability, Work Ability, and Career Adaptation of Soldiers in Nigeria

Article Sidebar

Requires Subscription or Fee PDF (USD 10) Requires Subscription or Fee HTML (USD 10)
Published: Jul 22, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5744/jpms.2023.2003
Keywords:
career adaptation perceived individual employability perceived work ability person-job fit Nigerian military

Main Article Content

Chiedozie O. Okafor
Department of Psychology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Nigeria
Ikechukwu V. N. Ujoatuonu
Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Chineye J. Kizito
Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Gabriel C. Kanu
Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Obinna O. Ike
Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Abstract

The personnel selection based on ethnoreligious factors, with the readoption of Fulani herders, bandits, and unknown shooters into the defense organization, has challenged Nigerian troops’ perceived individual employability, perceived work ability, and fit between person and vocation. Also, these have made personnel career adaptability a severe challenge for Nigerian soldiers. We examined person-job fit as a moderator in the associations of perceived individual employability, perceived work ability, and career adaptability. Two hundred and fifty-two Nigerian military personnel between eighteen and sixty years of age (M = 39; SD = .964) participated in the study. Through purposeful and convenient sampling techniques, we collected data using the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale, the Self-Perceived Individual Employability Scale, the Perceived Work Ability Scale, and the Person-Job-Fit Scale. Our findings showed that individual employability, perceived work ability, and person-job fit significantly predict military personnel’s career adaptation. Person-job fit moderated the association of perceived individual employability and military career adaptation. However, it did not influence the association between perceived work ability and military career adaptation. Our study showed that person-job fit, individual employability with work ability, and career adaptation are prerequisites for enlistment, deployment for combat, and well-being after combat experiences. Practical implications are that the insecurity challenges in Nigeria would have been mitigated if defense organizations had selected enlisted personnel for military work and deployment based on work ability, employability, and person-job fit so that they could quickly adapt to their careers and fight these insecurity challenges. Also, our study suggests that educational qualifications are not essential for military enlistment and deployment. We highlighted our study’s limitations and suggested further work on the topic.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 50 No. 2 (2023)
Section
Articles
Author Biographies

Chiedozie O. Okafor, Department of Psychology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Nigeria

Chiedozie O. Okafor is a social psychologist and senior lecturer at the Department of Psychology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, West Africa. He has published numerous articles in highly reputable journals, including Plos ONE, Evolutionary Psychology, Career Development International, and Technology Analysis & Strategic Management.

Ikechukwu V. N. Ujoatuonu , Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Ikechukwu Vincent Nnachebem Ujoatuonu, an accomplished industrial and organizational psychologist and senior lecturer at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has focused his research on career adaptation, professional commitment, workability, peace of mind, harmony in life, innovation, and ageing. His work has been published in reputable journals such as the Journal of Innovation and Ageing, Sage Nursing Open, Journal of Psychology in Africa, Frontiers in Psychology, Frontiers in Education, and Trends in Psychology, among others.

Chineye J. Kizito, Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Chineye Jennifer Kizito is an MSc student and a graduate student in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Gabriel C. Kanu, Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Gabriel C. Kanu is an nidustrial and organizational psychologist and a senior lecturer at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He has published numerous journal articles in highly reputable psychology, social sciences, and management journals.

Obinna O. Ike, Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Obinna Osita Ike is a lecturer at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. His field of specialisation is industrial and organizational psychology. He has published many articles in highly reputable journals.