The Role of Future Work Self in Highlighting Meaningful Prospective Work and Buffering Purpose in Life

Future Work Self (FWSs, Strauss et al., 2012), which refers to cognitive representations of individuals’ hopes and aspirations related to work, offers an opportunity to foster a profound sense of work meaning in work. The activation of the meaning-making process also contributes to achieving a sense of purpose in life. Hypotheses were tested through a three-wave survey conducted with a sample of graduate students (N = 117). The findings revealed that higher levels of FWS salience and positive affect in envisioning the FWS were significantly associated with meaning-making, which in turn predicted a greater sense of purpose in life. This study highlights how individuals can derive meaning from a hypothetical future work to guide their career management. It also contributes to the FWS literature by providing evidence of the predictive potential of FWSs in meaning-making and fostering a sense of purpose in life