International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Review

PERCEIVED OVERQUALIFICATION AND JOB EMBEDDEDNESS: RELATIONSHIPS WITH JOB SATISFACTION, ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT AND TURNOVER INTENTIONS

Authors: Joana Leal & Marina Carvalho

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Perceived overqualification has become, in recent years, an increasingly relevant topic due to its negative effects on job satisfaction, motivation and organizational commitment. The present study intended to contribute to a more comprehensive approach to these factors and had the main goal analyzing the relationship between perceived overqualification and job embeddedness with job satisfaction, organizational commitment and turnover intentions. Methods: A convenience sample composed of 404 employes, 70.8% female, aged between 21 and 67 years old, participated by completing, after their informed consent, an online protocol, composed of a demographic and work-related variables section and five self-reports. Results: Overqualified participants reported higher levels of work alternatives and turnover intentions; participants with perceived adequate qualifications reported higher job embeddedness, satisfaction, commitment and intentions to remain in the organization. Correlations results were in the expected direction and organizational sacrifices, work alternatives, person-organization fit, job satisfaction and cognitive incompatibility predicted turnover intentions. Furthermore, job embeddedness mediated the relationship between cognitive stagnation and turnover intentions. Conclusions: The results pointed to the need of identifying individual and contextual factors when assessing turnover intentions and, in particular, the role of job embeddedness which, when promoted, may contribute to improve, ultimately, employes’ performance and organizational productivity.

Keywords: Perceived Overqualification; Job Embeddedness; Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment; Turnover Intentions

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