Finding reemployment after job loss is a complex and difficult task that
requires extensive motivation and self-regulation. This study aimed to
examine whether improving unemployed job seekers’ cognitive selfregulation
can increase reemployment probabilities. Based on the goal
orientation literature, we developed a learning-goal orientation (LGO)
training, which focused on goal setting aimed at improving rather than
demonstrating competences and creating a climate of development and
improvement.We predicted that the LGO training would influence peoples’
goal orientation towards job seeking, which in turn would relate
to learning from failure, strategy awareness, and self-efficacy, leading
to job-search intentions, resulting in increased reemployment status.
Using a 2-group quasi-experimental design with 223 unemployed job
seekers, we found support for these predictions, except for self-efficacy.
The results suggest that an LGO training is a promising tool to improve
self-regulation in and effectiveness of job search.