Digital literacy, organizational activities, and self-efficacy in students’ career readiness: career adaptability as a mediator

Abstract

As digitalization advances, workplace demands become increasingly complex, requiring students to possess not only academic competence but also digital, experiential, psychological, and adaptive resources. This study examines the effects of Digital Literacy, Organizational Activities, and Self-Efficacy on Career Readiness, with Career Adaptability as a mediating variable. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among 85 students from the Faculty of Economics and Business, Islamic University of Malang, using purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 4.0.9.4. The results show that Digital Literacy and Self-Efficacy have significant positive effects on Career Adaptability, whereas Organizational Activities do not significantly affect Career Adaptability. Career Adaptability, Digital Literacy, and Organizational Activities have significant positive effects on Career Readiness, whereas Self-Efficacy has no significant direct effect. Career Adaptability significantly mediates the effects of Digital Literacy and Self-Efficacy on Career Readiness, but not the effect of Organizational Activities. These findings indicate that Career Readiness is shaped through different mechanisms: Digital Literacy operates both directly and indirectly, Organizational Activities primarily operate directly, and Self-Efficacy primarily operates through Career Adaptability.