"Successful or eliminated?" - Empowering Business students to navigate the VUCA World for a long-term sustainable career after graduation?

Abstract

Introduction: The fast-changing and unpredictable nature of the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) world creates big challenges for business students in building stable careers after graduation. Understanding and studying VUCA is important because it connects to the SDGs by helping students become more adaptable and resilient in their careers. Also, VUCA affects education, especially career-focused education, by helping students gain the skills needed to succeed and build long-term careers in an increasingly complicated world. Design/methodology: This study explores the relationship between Career Adaptability, Career Concern, Career Control, Career Curiosity, Career Confidence, Future Orientation, and Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy, and their combined impact on resilience and career success potential. Specifically, drawing on Career Construction Theory, Social Cognitive Career Theory, and Conservation of Resources Theory, we investigated how these psychological constructs shape career outcomes. To empirically test the proposed model, the study employs an online survey of 372 business students across various majors in Vietnam. Findings: Notably, the study highlights the strong relationship between Career Concern, Career Control, and Career Confidence in shaping Future Orientation. Moreover, both Proactive Personality and Future Orientation are found to positively influence Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy, which, in turn, significantly contributes to Career Success. Furthermore, Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy not only boosts confidence in career choices but also enhances Resilience, thereby enabling individuals to perceive setbacks as valuable opportunities for growth and continuous improvement. Contributions: By addressing the complexities of career preparedness in the VUCA era, this research offers actionable insights to enhance adaptability, resilience, and long-term career success for business students. Additionally, the study contributes to the broader understanding of career adaptability in Vietnam’s higher education landscape, particularly among business students. Finally, practical recommendations are provided to empower Vietnamese business graduates to navigate uncertainties, align with the SDGs, and achieve long-term career sustainability