Exploring Career Competencies: An Italian Validation Study of the CCQ and Test of Its Nomological Net

Abstract

Career competencies are widely acknowledged as critical self-regulatory resources for achieving career success. The measurement of career competencies has been largely confined to restricted cultural contexts, limiting theoretical development and practical application. Addressing this gap, we conducted a validation study of an Italian version of the Career Competencies Questionnaire (CCQ-I), advancing its cross-cultural applicability and positioning career competencies within the self-regulatory framework. In Study 1, we developed and validated the CCQ-I. Drawing on a sample of Italian employees ( N = 555), randomly split into two sub-samples, we conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to establish the factorial structure. We further tested measurement invariance, concurrent and discriminant validity. Study 2 employed a three-wave design with an independent sample of Italian employees ( N = 591). Across both studies, findings provided support for the CCQ-I’s validity, demonstrating high reliability, a stable factor structure across groups. Importantly, longitudinal results from Study 2 revealed that career competencies predict multiple facets of subjective career success, with career crafting serving as a behavioral enactment. This research extends career competencies theory by validating a culturally sensitive instrument, clarifying how career competencies contribute to career success, and providing actionable insights for scholars and practitioners.