To study the effect of protean careers orientation on teachers’ intention to quit, this study
investigated the mediating effect of perceived external marketability between self-direction
and intention to quit. The framework of this study was under the spectrum of stimulusorganism-
response theory. The sample of 274 private primary school teachers of Karachi,
the data was gathered using a questionnaire-based survey method and analysed using SPSS
22 and Smart PLS3.2 with structural equation modelling technique. The self-direction was
found widespread among young teachers. We found that highly protean teachers had a
higher intention to quit when they perceived higher external marketability. The results
complement the current knowledge of protean careers orientation in the Pakistani
education sector and provide a clear conceptualisation of perceived external marketability.
It is also helpful for policymakers to better understand the subjective reasons such as selfdirection
and perceived marketability among the teachers, which may affect the career
decisions of teachers and may lead to quitting behaviour.
