College Students' Struggles with Career Decisions and Their Personality     : Struggles of college students in career making decisions

Heera  Akbar; Summiya  Ahmad; Hayat  Muhammad

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v4i08.885

Authors

Heera Akbar Department of Psychology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
Summiya Ahmad Department of Psychology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
Hayat Muhammad Department of Psychology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v4i08.885

Keywords:

Personality, Neuroticism, Extraversion, Career Decision-Making Difficulties

Abstract

Students face challenges while selecting a career in Pakistan is very common. 99% students lack career counselling services in schools, colleges and universities. In the current study career decision-making difficulties faced by students in Peshawar was investigated when they plan to apply in a school, college and university and to evaluate what kind of assistance they need in their career choices related to their personality. Objective: To see how personality affect the decision-making of careers in students at high schools, colleges, and universities. Methods: The influence of personality traits (Extraversion and Neuroticism) on the decision-making of career difficulties was investigated using a causal-comparative study methodology. In Pakistan, 99 percent of pupils still need career guidance. As a result, three hundred and seventy-six (N=376) students were chosen from Peshawar's various schools, colleges, and universities. Two questionnaires were used to gauge the participants' responses: The career decision-making difficulties Questionnaire and Big Five Personality Inventory. Results: Findings suggest that most students needed help with professional decision-making and that a small percentage of students were satisfied with their selected disciplines. Conclusions: Students with high neuroticism and low extroversion had difficulty making professional decisions.

References

Lipshits-Braziler Y, Gati I, Tatar M. Strategies for coping with career indecision: Concurrent and predictive validity. Journal of Vocational Behavior. 2015 Dec; 91: 170-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jvb.2015.10.004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2015.10.004

Savickas ML. Constructing careers: Actor, agent, and author. Journal of Employment Counseling. 2011 Dec; 48(4): 179-81. doi: 10.1002/j.2161-1920.2011.tb01109.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1920.2011.tb01109.x

Borchert M. Career choice factors of high school students. (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). 2002. Available at: https://www2.uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/2002/2002borchertm.pdf.

Feldman DC. The antecedents and consequences of early career indecision among young adults. Human Resource Management Review. 2003 Sep; 13(3): 499-531. doi: 10.1016/S1053-4822 (03)00048-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1053-4822(03)00048-2

Guilford JP. Factors and factors of personality. Psychological Bulletin. 1975 Sep; 82(5): 802. doi: 10.1037/h0077101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/h0077101

Costa Jr PT and McCrae RR. Domains and facets: Hierarchical personality assessment using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. Journal of Personality Assessment. 1995 Feb; 64(1): 21-50. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa6401_2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa6401_2

Saka N, Gati I, Kelly KR. Emotional and personality-related aspects of career-decision-making difficulties. Journal of Career Assessment. 2008 May; 16(4): 403-24. doi: 10.1177/1069072710382525. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072708318900

Albion MJ and Fogarty GJ. Factors influencing career decision making in adolescents and adults. Journal of Career Assessment. 2002 Feb; 10(1): 91-126. doi: 10.1177/1069072702010001006. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072702010001006

Hilton TL. Career decision-making. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 1962; 9(4): 291. doi: 10.1037/0022-0167.43.4.510. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/h0048309

Di Fabio A and Palazzeschi L. Emotional intelligence, personality traits and career decision difficulties. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance. 2009 Jul; 9: 135-46. doi: 10.1007/s10775-009-9162-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-009-9162-3

Herr EL. Career development and its practice: A historical perspective. The Career Development Quarterly. 2001 Mar; 49(3): 196-211. doi: 10.1002/j.2161-0045.2001.tb00562.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2001.tb00562.x

Martincin KM and Stead GB. Five-factor model and difficulties in career decision making: A meta-analysis. Journal of Career Assessment. 2015 Feb; 23(1): 3-19. doi: 10.1177/1069072714523081. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072714523081

Gati I, Krausz M, Osipow SH. A taxonomy of difficulties in career decision making. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 1996 Oct: 43(4): 510–26. doi: 10.1037/0022-0167.43.4.510. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.43.4.510

Kelly KR and Shin YJ. Relation of neuroticism and negative career thoughts and feelings to lack of information. Journal of Career Assessment. 2009 May; 17(2): 201-13. doi: 10.1177/1069072708329029. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072708329029

Lounsbury JW, Hutchens T, Loveland JM. An investigation of big five personality traits and career decidedness among early and middle adolescents. Journal of Career Assessment. 2005 Feb; 13(1): 25-39. doi: 10.1177/1069072704270272. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072704270272

Boudreau JW, Boswell WR, Judge TA, Bretz Jr RD. Personality and cognitive ability as predictors of job search among employed managers. Personnel Psychology. 2001 Mar; 54(1): 25-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-6570.2001.tb00084.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2001.tb00084.x

Gati I, Levin N, Landman-Tal S. Decision-making models and career guidance. International Handbook of Career Guidance. 2019: 115-45. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4020-6230-8_8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25153-6_6

Kanfer R, Wanberg CR, Kantrowitz TM. Job search and employment: A personality–motivational analysis and meta-analytic review. Journal of Applied Psychology. 2001 Oct; 86(5): 837. doi: 10.1037/0021-9010.86.5.837. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.86.5.837

Caldwell DF and Burger JM. Personality characteristics of job applicants and success in screening interviews. Personnel Psychology. 1998 Mar; 51(1): 119-36. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-6570.1998.tb00718.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1998.tb00718.x

Van Hooft EA, Kammeyer-Mueller JD, Wanberg CR, Kanfer R, Basbug G. Job search and employment success: A quantitative review and future research agenda. Journal of Applied Psychology. 2021 May; 106(5): 674. doi: 10.1037/apl0000675. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000675