Better match, better career: Comparing the mediating effects of demands-Abilities fit and needs-supplies fit between career exploration and career satisfaction

In the boundaryless career era, employees tend to focus on their own needs and what they can obtain from jobs to make wise career choices and achieve a high level of career satisfaction. Using a sample of 230 Chinese employees, this study investigated the mediating effect of demands-abilities fit and needs-supplies fit in the relationship between career exploration and career satisfaction and compared the mediating effects of these two types of person-job fit. This study found that: 1) employees could achieve a higher level of career satisfaction by conducting more career exploration behaviors; 2) both demands-abilities fit and needs-supplies fit mediated the relationship between career exploration and career satisfaction; 3) the mediating effect of needs-supplies fit was stronger than that of demands-abilities fit. Theoretical and practical applications were also discussed.