Unraveling the complex relationship between career success and career crafting: Exploring nonlinearity and the moderating role of learning value of the job

While scholars have devoted considerable attention to proactive career behaviors, little is known about the drivers behind these behaviors. In this study, we build on conservation of resources theory to study nonlinearity in the relationship between (objective and subjective) career success and career crafting behaviors (i.e., proactive career reflection and proactive career construction) using a sample of 702 teaching staff. Both low and high levels of subjective career success related to higher levels of proactive career reflection (i.e., U-shaped relationship), whereas only high levels of subjective career success related to higher levels of proactive career construction (i.e., strengthening quadratic relationship). Moreover, learning value of the job moderated the relationship between subjective career success and both dimensions of career crafting. Our findings indicate that educational institutions should monitor and act on the perceived career success and learning value of their teaching staff to foster their career proactivity. •Showing the relationship between career success and proactive career behaviors may be more complex than previously assumed.•Highest levels of proactive career reflection were found at low and high levels of subjective career success.•Highest levels of proactive career construction were only found at high levels of subjective career success.•Individuals who evaluate their career unfavourably may need support to enact their career aspirations.•Learning value of the job moderated the relationship between subjective career success and both career crafting dimensions.