Homefront fuel for career growth: the role of career crafting and work–life balance

Purpose In the evolving landscape of work, individuals are transitioning from relying on employers to self-manage their careers in pursuit of progression and growth. This study aims to advance the understanding of career growth by identifying family motivation as a crucial antecedent. Drawing upon the wise proactivity perspective, we examine how family motivation influences career growth through the mediating role of career crafting, with work–family balance serving as a moderator. Design/methodology/approach A three-wave survey involving 244 employees in China was conducted to test hypotheses using hierarchical regression in SPSS 26.0 and Mplus 8. Findings The results indicate that family motivation positively influences career growth through the mediating role of career crafting, with the effects amplified under high work–family balance. Practical implications Organizations can promote career growth by enhancing work–family balance through flexible work arrangements, improved welfare policies, and relevant training programs. For employees, understanding and leveraging family motivation can encourage proactive career crafting and reflection, enabling individuals to align professional goals with family focused values. By fostering this alignment, the study offers insights into achieving sustained career growth while supporting individual and organizational development. Originality/value This study clarifies the mediating mechanism from family motivation to career growth from the wise proactivity perspective, thereby expanding the literature on career crafting. Also, it extends the wise proactivity perspective into the family and career domains, enriching research on the antecedents of career growth.