Abstract
A few months before their graduation (N = 675), the survey data of university students was analysed in order to explore the determinants of self-reported preparatory job search behaviour (JSB) within the context of proactive behaviour and Expectancy-Value theory. Five blocks of independent variables were entered into a hierarchical regression analysis to predict JSB: (a) control variables such as gender and academic area: (b) proactive personality; (c) the perception of job opportunities as Expectancy variable; (d) the value placed upon working as a life role as Value variable; and (e) the interaction Expectancy x Value. It was confirmed that proactive personality. Expectancy and Value made modest incremental contributions to the prediction of JSB. Gender and academic area had no effect on JSB. Graduates with a proactive personality reported more JSB. An optimistic perception of job opportunities (Expectancy) also enhanced JSB. Graduates who attached a high value to work in life (Value) reported more JSB, as can be expected from expectancy-value theory. However, the theoretically derived prediction of an interaction Expectancy x Value was not evident.