IntroductionGiven the intensifying employment difficulties faced by Chinese university students today, career exploration (CEX) has become increasingly essential. Examining its relationships with career decision-making self-efficacy (CDSE), career maturity (CM), and proactive personality (PP) may provide valuable insights for enhancing students' CEX.MethodsA quantitative research design was employed to examine the relationships among PP, CM, CDSE, and CEX among Chinese university students. Structural equation modeling was conducted while controlling for grade level.ResultsThe results showed that only PP and CDSE had significant positive effects on CEX. CDSE mediated the relationship between PP and CEX, whereas CM did not show a significant mediating effect.DiscussionThe findings suggest that enhancing PP and CDSE may be beneficial for promoting Chinese university students' CEX and employability. Therefore, these factors should be considered in programs designed to improve students' CEX or career competence.