The relationship between career-related future time orientation and employment outcomes: a time-lagged study

On the basis of self-regulation literature, we examined how and when career-related future time orientation predicted later perceived person–job fit. Using a sample of 233 students from one Chinese university, we found that baseline future time orientation related to person–job fit 12 months later via enhancing exploration and focused search. We also confirmed that, compared with future time-oriented students who held weaker zero-sum beliefs, those with stronger beliefs were less likely to engage in exploration. In addition, zero-sum beliefs buffered the indirect relationship between future time orientation and fit. The findings highlight the importance of future time orientation and zero-sum beliefs in young people’s career development.