“The factors influencing the career choices of students of

Institute of Business Management-The making of future

employees or employers”

by
Hayyan Khanzada
19054

A thesis research proposal

submitted at the INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, Karachi.

Karachi, Pakistan.
March, 2020
   
   
  RESEARCH PROPOSAL  
Research Title:  
 The factors influencing the career choices of students of Institute of Business Management-The
making of future employees or employers?

1. Introduction:   
Entrepreneurship is the only thing behind all these huge corporations working now-a-days in the world.
These corporations were started by a person who wanted to take some risks in life to become successful.
With his risk people now a days have jobs and benefits the economy as well.
This research revolves around the opinion of today’s students of IOBM that whether they will go for
entrepreneurship as their future career or will be the one who work in MNCs or in local companies. The
research is backed by qualitative and quantitative analysis and the data will be collected from the students
of IOBM.
Entrepreneurship is viewed as a combination of innovation and risk taking. When such an activity thrives,
high growth rates are achieved as well as opportunities offered to the whole society, including the poor.
Benefits are offered through growth and employment which causes the whole economy to grow.

1.1 Background of The study: I selected this particular topic is the changing attitude of students of
business institutes. 20-30 years ago no one was much aware of the word ‘entrepreneurship’ and if
they were aware, they lacked the ability to take up risks. As I am aware of; entrepreneurship means
‘taking financial risks in the hope of profit’. In accordance with the psychological and behavioral
perspective, it is obtained that those people belonging to generation- X are highly risk aversive while
we, the millennials, are comparatively less risk aversive and that our generation ought to take
calculated risks. Our minds are more explorative and that the extrovert characteristic brings out the
creativity in us. There are several factors like our perspectives and our traits that are influencing our
career choices and it is essential to know which career is being influenced in what ways.
1.2 Problem statement:

Career selection decision making process is one of the key elements in an individual’s life (Alberts et al.
2003). There exist numerous problems encountered by students in their process of career selection
(Olamide and Olawaiye, 2013). Wrong career selection opens the door for lifelong consequences
(Mashige and Oduntan, 2011).Such individual’s by underperforming becomes a source of inefficiency not
only for themselves, their organization but also for the economy as a whole. (Issa and Nwalo, 2008).
Pakistan is a developing country with minimum GDP growth rate of 4.71% (economic survey of Pakistan,
2016) and HDI ranking of 147 out of 188 countries worldwide (UNDP, 2014-15) If the core educated
population of the country enrolled in business schools would not be taking right career decisions, then the
country would not be able to boost up itself in order to compete in such complex and dynamic
environment.

1.3 Objectives of The study:

To identify the most influential factor that affects the career choice of the students of IOBM

1.4 Scope of The study:

Data will be collected from students of iobm.

1.5 Research Question:

How many students of CBM studying BBA (H) and are in last semester are going to opt entrepreneurship

as their future career or will be doing job in some MNCs or local companies.

2.3 Hypotheses:

 H1= Family preferences do not influence the career choices of business students.

 H2= Effect of media on students do not affect their preferences for careers.

 H3= Education does not help to attain insights of the interests of students.

 H4= Opportunities available in the market do not help students to choose a career option.

 H5= Availability of capital does not correlate with the opportunity to start up a business.

 H6= Risk does not correlate to entrepreneurship.

Review of Literature:
According to the study of Kazi Afaq Ahmed, Nimra Sharif and Nawaz Ahmed (2017), an incorrect

career choice directs all individual efforts and resources into a wrong direction, when not aligned

with the expectations. The results of their study revealed that “interest in the subject” is the most

dominant factor influencing career choices of business students. Financial outcomes, ease of subject

and future job opportunities were observed to have minor impact. The interest in the subject is also

related and has some linkage with personality type. Mismatch of the personality and lack of interest

in the subject is dangerous, and could end up into disastrous results in terms of student

dissatisfaction. The career choice of the students is also influenced by the level of their social class,

financial resources, affordability and future employability.

The study of NoshinaSaleem, Mian Ahmed Hannan, Irfan Saleem, and Rao MajeedJamshed (2014)

reveals that “parent’s profession,” “mass media” and “personal choice” has great impact on

students’ career selection. Their study validates that “parent’s profession” has influence on

students’ career choice. Similarly, “personal choice” has strong and direct impact on students’

career selection. Moreover, this study claims that media is also playing a significant role in career
selection. In addition, all three factors including “parent’s profession,” “mass media” and “personal

choice” have mutual influence on career choice of students.

Irfan Raja, Wasim Ahmed, Umair Ashraf Rana and Nadeem Ahmed (2013) revealed in their study

that the higher education environment in Pakistan has become very aggressive and universities

have to struggle for recruiting highly intellectual students. The students have become consumerists

due to increasing fees of higher education institutes. Undergraduate business students from five

universities in three cities of central Punjab i.e. Lahore, Faisalabad and Sahiwal, participated in the

study. Findings of their study revealed that higher education commission ranking, institutional

reputation, employment, and career prospects have been found most important allied to desired

university and course. As a result of this career focus approach, the students consider prominence,

price and programmed factors most important.

Career selection has become more complex in 21st century due to individual’s dependence upon

mass media that plays a significant role in imparting information to patents and shaping. Education

sets career direction. Factors influencing career choice vary from culture to culture and society to

society.An incorrect career choice directs all individual efforts and resources into a wrong direction,

when not aligned with the expectations; would not only be frustrating rather draining of the

individual energy and wastage of resources. The right career choice for the students entering into

the professional education is critical having high impact on their professional life and future

achievement. This is the turning point: it cannot be left, on intuition, preconceived notions, wild

imaginations or popular concepts. A miss-perceived career choice directs all individual efforts and

resources into wrong direction, when not aligned with the expectations. The re-alignment is

possible, but it has serious implications in terms of time,money and motivation. The career choice

of the students must need to be based on; strongknowledge, complete information, and

appropriately guided, matching individual personalitytype and other intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

The students need to be oriented on new emerging trends, future opportunities and challenges in
the context of career choice options. They need to know the prevalent market trends and practices

and job scenario of various sectors. 

Entrepreneurship is basically opening up a new business, or taking the risk of opening a new

business and taking all the risk and reward for that business instead of working for a person. One

has to be confident, imaginative, creative, and passionate about what he is working and street

smart. If a person does not have enough money to raise a new business or startup a new business,

family support means a lot at that point. Let’s take an example, if the person is starting a new

business of clothing line and he does not have enough funds or he is starting up a new business with

his friends, and he does not have enough money saved for to invest then he obviously has to ask

from his family for funds. It depends upon the business, depends upon the venture he is starting to.

Example if you are starting a new business of clothing line today in Pakistan you will not be able to

manufacture cloths as now a day’s problem of gas supply for the textile factory is not even at par, so

despite of the opportunity in it you will not be able to succeed. It also depends upon security reason

and economic stability as well.

Entrepreneurship is all about creating opportunities and making businesses out of them. It’s like

getting your ideas, your expertise, skills and starting a business in, where there are a market gaps

and it’s a really big boom in the west and right now it is also flourishing in Pakistan.

Entrepreneurship has space and those who are unemployed they should actually try at least and

those who have ideas; obviously they will become an entrepreneurs, leaders and bigger people.

There is high risk taking in it, one should know when to take risk, how to take risk and should have

ideas, visions, market experience is a pre requisite, one should know what one is doing and then

with consistency and persistence, focus, hard work and passion. It’s all about passion. In Pakistan I

have a lot of family people who start businesses. Be the chinoties, the mamons or the dehliwalas, or

other factions that have started family businesses and now they are big corporates and big chains.

So, if your family has an idea like, I are into the business this can really be a positive sign, it could be
a really big support and investments, ideas, training, support there by the family and there is the

genetics too. They say America is a land of opportunities. But Pakistan, is an even greener land. It

has a fertile soil not just for agriculture, for every industry you want to start in Pakistan, I can create

opportunities because opportunities are made or created. I don’t have to wait for opportunities. So

Pakistanis are working hard, they are trying something new, they are on progressive path and in

future they will have a lot of opportunities. Then again being a hard reality I have to create our own

opportunities. Personally, if one changes ones’ mind because of someone mentoring, brain washing,

teaching, instructing and guidance towards a different decision.

In simple words entrepreneurship is to run your own business, but in practical life being an

entrepreneur is such a big responsibility, an entrepreneur have to manage work from top level

management to non-managerial staff.It is believed that openness to experience is the basic trait of

personality that can make a person entrepreneur because more experience can help you determine

your aim.Yes family support plays an important role in starting of any business. They will need to

partially deal with your financial situation, your work schedules, you being stressed out and many

other things from the business that will spill out from the business onto your family life.Yes

Pakistan is land of opportunities because any countries are investing in different sectors.

Entrepreneurship is true success. Like working only for one and fulfilling own dreams rather than

working for some XYZ person and making his dream come true.Determination for working for you

is very difficult. You need to find a challenge, rather than just tackle one.Yes very much so far it’s a

huge risk, and if you are under pressure to opt for a safer route, that is of a job and such then you

are less likely to do it.

Creating something new/ unique that’s satisfies the needs of an individual and help him in

achieving goals more efficiently. And most importantly the goal for his own life which he has set not

that which is set by others which he has to fulfill. Entrepreneurship means creativity,

determination, sacrifice, leadership, forward thinking. Family does play a major role in supporting
your thoughts. If you want to start a business but you cannot due to bad financial condition of your

family you will definitely need the support of your family for this. Yes Pakistan has opportunities.

Here market is not stagnant, so you can succeed.

Self-business self-earning this is an entrepreneur. Self believe to capture any market is the key and

pre requisite for a person to become an entrepreneur. It doesn’t really matter. If you have the will

and you have it within you then that’s all that matters. Family does not affect. Opportunities are not

provided you have to work for it which includes research and dedication. No one will come to you

and tell you that this is the opportunity so do this. You have to create your own.

Entrepreneurship is starting of a new business. Obsession to become big. Family support is needed

for making a step in every phase of life and Pakistan is a land full of opportunities for one’s who

want to deliver.

Theoretical Framework:

Theoretical Framework is of great importance as it the foundation stone of our research and the

basis of which it stands. In order to develop the theoretical framework, the initial research for the

problem identification is extremely important and provides us with basic guidelines in order to

conduct our research. It basically help us to generalize. Without conducting the initial research, it

becomes difficult for you to generalize at the end.

Conceptual Framework:

I.V Int.V D.V

Education
Media Career choices of
business students

Family
 Opportunities

Job and risk M.V

Career Counseling

Personality Traits

Interest

Financial Outcomes

3.Methodology:

3.1 Data:
Primary Data: Questionnaires

Secondary Data: Research Articles, Journals, Internet

3.2 Variables:

· Education
· Family
· Job and risk
· Opportunities
· Personality traits
· Financial outcomes
· Interest in the subject
· Media
· Career counseling

Inclusion criteria:
Students of IOBM

Sampling Technique & Procedure:

As much as I know the population of students of iobm is about approximately 4000 studnets out of which
about more the half would be in there 1st and 2nd years of study so that leaves me with aound
approximately 1000 students and those have to be filtered as well, as this population is made of students
studying in all kinds of fields like engineering, media my main focus would be to cater the students who
are in commerce related fields so that leaves me with not much of a population to cater around with so I
will take a considerate sample size of 60 students after filtration of non effective surveys been turned in to
me.
Sample Size:

N = 60
Method of Data Collection & Procedure:
We will be using a questionnaire that is developed after reading the literature. We have taken questions
from the questionnaires used in previous researches for better credibility. We will be asking close ended
questions by using an ordinal likert scale having five points. The questionnaire has sections about each of
the construct.

Additionally, we will be using Google forms for collecting responses from the interested candidates. All
the respondents will be doing voluntary participation.
Additionally, we will be analysing our data through by performing statistical tests through SPSS

Instrument/s of Data Collection:

Questionnaire.

Statistical Tests to be used:

Regression, Anova
Possible Research Findings:
This study will help me find the factors which influence the career choices of students at iobm.

List of References:

The study of NoshinaSaleem, Mian Ahmed Hannan, Irfan Saleem, and Rao MajeedJamshed (2014)
reveals that “parent’s profession,”

Irfan Raja, Wasim Ahmed, Umair Ashraf Rana and Nadeem Ahmed (2013)

Career selection has become more complex in 21st century due to individual’s dependence upon mass
media that plays a significant role in imparting information to patents

the study of Kazi Afaq Ahmed, Nimra Sharif and Nawaz Ahmed (2017), an incorrect career choice
directs all individual efforts and resources into a wrong direction
Questionnaire:
Disclaimer:
we are the students of IoBM and the survey is for academic purpose, your information would be kept
confidential.
1. Age
1) 18-30 2) 20-29 3) 30-39 4) 40-49 5) 50-59 6) 60+
2. Gender
1) Male 2) Female
3. Major
1) None 2) Marketing 3) Supply chain 4) Accounts 5) Finance
4. Year of study
1) First 2) Second 3) Third 4) Fourth
5. Would you pursue your career choice after graduating
1) Yes 2) No

Please put mark at the specific place according to your level of agreement for the following
statements related to factors effecting career choices of students of Iobm.

(1 being the least level of agreement and 5 being the highest level of agreement)
1. Does having Education have any kind of affect on your future career choice?
1) Strongly Disagree 2) Disagree 3) Neutral 4) Agree 5) Strongly Agree
2. Does Family affects your career choice in any way?
1) Strongly Disagree 2) Disagree 3) Neutral 4) Agree 5) Strongly Agree
3. Does Job and Risk factor affect your career choice?
1) Strongly Disagree 2) Disagree 3) Neutral 4) Agree 5) Strongly Agree
4. When seeing Opportunities does it affect your career choice in any way?
1) Strongly Disagree 2) Disagree 3) Neutral 4) Agree 5) Strongly Agree
5. Does your Personality have an affect on your career choice?
1) Strongly Disagree 2) Disagree 3) Neutral 4) Agree 5) Strongly Agree
6. Does Financial Outcomes affect your career choice ?
1) Strongly Disagree 2) Disagree 3) Neutral 4) Agree 5) Strongly Agree
7. Does your Interest in specific field affect your career choice?
1) Strongly Disagree 2) Disagree 3) Neutral 4) Agree 5) Strongly Agree
8. Does Media have an affect on your career choice?
1) Strongly Disagree 2) Disagree 3) Neutral 4) Agree 5) Strongly Agree
9. Does Career Counseling affect your career choices in any way ?
1) Strongly Disagree 2) Disagree 3) Neutral 4) Agree 5) Strongly Agree