Career adaptability in the new hospitality work paradigm: effects of regulatory focus and organizational socialization

The hospitality industry is currently in transition, and the workforce has become vulnerable, making career adaptability a crucial skill. Self-regulation plays an important role in adaptation, and thus, regulatory focus can shape how individuals tackle the challenges of a new work environment. Organizational socialization during the onboarding process can influence how well new employees align their behaviors and goals with those of the organization. This paper examines the relationship between regulatory focus and career adaptability among U.S. hospitality employees and tests the mediating role of organizational socialization. Results show a positive association between regulatory focus and both career adaptability and organizational socialization. Moreover, organizational socialization significantly mediates the relationship between regulatory focus and career adaptability. Findings contribute to the career adaptability literature and show how practitioners can help strengthen career adaptability to facilitate transitions to new hospitality work environments.