The present study was conducted to test a structural equation model in which mentalization and career self-efficacy directly predict career calling, and career self-efficacy indirectly predicts career calling through proactive personality. The research method was descriptive-correlational, using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The statistical population consisted of all employed individuals in the city of Kermanshah in 2024, from whom 352 participants were selected through convenience sampling and participated in the study. The data collection instruments included the Calling and Vocation Questionnaire (Dik et al., 2012), the Short Affect-Focused Mentalization Scale (Greenberg et al., 2021), the Career Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (Bandura, 1977), and the Proactive Personality Scale (Bateman & Crant, 1993). The content validity of the instruments was confirmed, and their reliability was verified using internal consistency through Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26 and AMOS 26 software. The results indicated that the direct paths from mentalization to career calling (β = 0.20, p < 0.001), career self-efficacy to career calling (β = 0.41, p < 0.001), career self-efficacy to proactive personality (β = 0.72, p < 0.001), and proactive personality to career calling (β = 0.21, p < 0.05) were positive and significant. Moreover, the indirect path from career self-efficacy to career calling through the mediating role of proactive personality (β = 0.08, p = 0.006) was also positive and significant. The findings indicate that strengthening mentalization and career self-efficacy, particularly through fostering proactive personality traits, can facilitate the enhancement of employees’ career calling.