Career wellbeing: exploring the alignment of employees’ skills to job functions within financial institution in South Africa

Abstract

This study explores career wellbeing from the perspective of employees within a professional South African financial organization, focusing on how the alignment; or misalignment; of employee skill sets to allocated job functions influences career development. More specifically, it examines employee perceptions of appropriate skills alignment and its perceived role in promoting and sustaining career wellbeing. The research responds to a gap in the literature that highlights how persistent misalignment between employee skills and job requirements may hinder both individual and organizational growth. Adopting an interpretive paradigm, this qualitative case study used semi-structured interviews to gather data from participants. Findings suggest that appropriate alignment of skills to job roles can significantly enhance job satisfaction, skill utilization, and career progression. Conversely, perceived misalignment may impede professional development and limit organizational effectiveness. Participant insights underscore the complex interplay between education, employment, and wellbeing, with implications for policy, education reform, and workplace strategies. The study recommends targeted professional development initiatives, mentorship programs, and improved recruitment practices to ensure optimal alignment between skills and job roles. It further highlights the need for longitudinal and comparative studies to deepen understanding of what constitutes optimal alignment in advancing both career wellbeing and organizational performance.