# Anger or pride? The effect of overqualification on employees’ first job behavior from the perspective of the proactive motivation model

## TL;DR

This study explores how feeling overqualified affects new employees' proactive behaviors, and how emotions and supervisor support influence this relationship.

## Contribution

The study integrates emotional mediators and supervisory factors into understanding proactive behavior among overqualified employees.

## Key findings

- Perceived overqualification negatively affects proactive behavior in first-time employees.
- Job anger and authentic pride mediate the relationship between overqualification and proactive behavior.
- Perceived supervisor support moderates the effect of overqualification on proactive behavior.

## Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between perceived overqualification and proactive behaviors in the first job, focusing on the mediating roles of job anger and authentic pride and the moderating effect of perceived supervisor support. The research aims to address the challenge of maintaining and stimulating proactive behaviors among overqualified first-time employees.

Based on the proactive motivation model, this study collected data from 695 first-time employees and analyzed the relationships between perceived overqualification, emotions, proactive behaviors, and perceived supervisor support using statistical methods.

The results indicate that perceived overqualification negatively affects proactive behavior. Job anger and authentic pride serve as significant mediators in this relationship, while perceived supervisor support moderates the effect of perceived overqualification on proactive behavior.

This study contributes to the literature by integrating emotional mediators and supervisory factors into the analysis of proactive behavior among overqualified employees. It provides practical insights for enhancing human resource management and fostering proactive behaviors in the workplace, particularly for first-time employees facing overqualification.