International Journal of Research & Review (www.gkpublication.in) 119 Vol.4; Issue: 5; May 2017 International Journal of Research and Review www.ijrrjournal.com E-ISSN: 2349-9788; P-ISSN: 2454-2237 Original Research Article The Mediating Role of Work Engagement in the Relationship between Personal Resources and Employees’ Job Performance Abdirahman Mohamud Shire, Abdul Talib Bin Bon Department of Technology Management, Faculty of Technology Management and Business, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Parit Rajah, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia. Corresponding Author: Abdirahman Mohamud Shire ABSTRACT This paper aims to examine the role of work engagement in the relationship between three personal resources (self-efficacy, organizational-based self-esteem, and optimism) and employees’ job performance. Three antecedents of work engagement such as self-efficacy, organizational-based self-esteem, and optimism were proposed to enhance employees’ job performance. Work engagement and job performance was proposed as the intervening and outcome variables respectively. The data of this study have been collected from a group of employees in the telecommunication technology industry through questionnaire survey. The data were analysed using SPSS. The findings revealed that work engagement antecedents including the three personal resources (self-efficacy, organizational-based self-esteem, and optimism) have significant relationship with work engagement. Likewise; this study suggested that work engagement can improve the employees’ job performance by presenting a significant relationship between work engagement and job performance. Finally, work engagement mediated the relationship between personal resources and employees’ job performance. Keywords: Personal Resources; Work Engagement; Telecommunication Companies INTRODUCTION Work engagement is defined as a positive, fulfilling, work-related state of mind that is characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption. [1] Vigor is characterized by high levels of energy and mental resilience while working. Dedication refers to being strongly involved in one’s work and experiencing a sense of significance, enthusiasm, and challenge. Absorption is characterized by being fully concentrated and happily engrossed in one’s work, whereby time passes quickly and one has difficulties with detaching oneself from work. [2] In short, engaged employees have high levels of energy and are enthusiastic about their work. Moreover, they are often fully immersed in their work so that time flies. [3] The central aim of our study was to examine how personal resources influence the employees’ job performance through work engagement. Personal resources are aspects of the self that are generally linked to resiliency and refer to individuals’ sense of their ability to control and impact upon their environment successfully. [4] We include three typical personal resources, namely, self-efficacy, [5] organizational- based self-esteem, [6] and optimism, [4] all of which have been recognized by [4] as fundamental components of individual adaptability. Previous studies have shown that these personal resources are not only related to job performance, but also have positive effects on physical and emotional well- being. [7-8] Although people’s perception of