From Perseverance of Effort to Perceived Employability in First-Generation College Students: The Mediating Role of Career Adaptability and Career Engagement.

This article examines the career development of first-generation college students (FGCS) in Türkiye through the lens of Career Construction Theory (CCT), focusing on the relationships among perseverance of effort (adaptivity), career adaptability (adaptability resources), career engagement (adapting responses), and perceived employability (adaptation results). Using data from 308 senior FGCS, the study found that perseverance of effort positively predicts career adaptability and career engagement, which in turn enhance perceived employability; career adaptability and career engagement also sequentially mediate the link between perseverance and employability. The findings highlight the importance of internal strengths and proactive career behaviors in fostering positive career outcomes for FGCS amid challenging labor market conditions. The study suggests practical interventions to develop career adaptability and engagement among FGCS and calls for future research integrating individual and structural factors affecting career development.