How Future work selves highlight meaningful prospective work and buffer purpose in life

The concept of Future Work Self (FWSs, Strauss et al., 2012), which refers to individuals’ mental representations of their career-related hopes and aspirations, presents a valuable opportunity to foster a profound sense of meaningful work. Engaging in the process of meaning-making also plays a role in influencing a higher sense of purpose in life. Hypotheses were tested through a three-wave survey administered to a sample of graduate students (N = 117). Findings indicated that higher levels of salience and positive affect in envisioning the FWS were significantly connected with meaningful work, which subsequently predicted a stronger sense of purpose in life. This study highlights how envisioning a hypothetical future work scenario can serve to derive meaning from it and guide further career development. It also extends the literature on FWS by demonstrating the predictive role of FWSs in perceiving meaningful work and in nurturing a sense of purpose in life.