FACTORS AFFECTING THE CAREER CHOICES
In a fast-paced society, planning for the future is essential. In relation to this, career
planning has long been a factor to be considered in ensuring financial success and career
stability. The advent of information technology gave birth to the complexities of career choice
among students. Issa and Nwalo (2008) considered career choice as a critical point in the life of
an individual due to a person’s future role in the society. In this regard, every individual is
bound to come to a point of career decision-making at some point in his/her life. Super as cited
in Witko (2005) determined the significance of career planning during early adolescence and
young adulthood. In the Philippines, as well as in most countries, this stage is similar to high
school years. Failure in career planning causes problems to society. Ahmed, Sharif, & Ahmad
(2017) asserted that a wrong career choice directed efforts and resources to a wrong direction.
Misalignment with expectations exhausts personal energy and wastes resources. Furthermore,
Pascual (2014) associated underemployment in the Philippines to the misfit of the needs of the
workforce needed in different companies to the graduates of the different colleges and
universities. Another predicament was mentioned in the study of Anbuselvan et al. (2013)
where he said that there were problems faced by the students due to the matching of their
skills and school performance with the right career choice. Students do understand the
importance of career planning and the problems caused by failure to plan for their careers. The
study of Hiebert et al. as cited in Witko, Bernes, Magnusson, & Bardick (2005) revealed that
three (3) career-related concerns were in the top five students’ needs.
Family and friends are considered to be an influential part of students’ choice of major.
Parents with an agriculture background most often have an impact in where students go to
college. Family role models have more of an influence on what students major in (Wildman and
Torres, 2002). There are many people in a student’s life that can influence their career
decisions. Most of the time, parents and friends play a large role, but coaches and teachers can
also have a huge impact on a student’s life (Wildman and Torres, 2002). Teachers and coaches
can help a student to do better in school, to get into college or to get on a better path. The
impact that these adults have on young students can have a major influence on their career
path.
DECISION-MAKING AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
There are many majors and career paths available to students. The Princeton Review
(2013) divulged that the top five (5) college majors are business administration and
management, psychology, nursing, biology, and education. Statistics showed that agriculture is
not the most popular major field; however, agricultural economics and agricultural production
are among the top ten majors with the highest employment rate (98%) in the United States
(Business Insider, 2013). Many factors can influence come into play when college students
choice of career path. Students will typically take into account the quality of life they want
when they are older. Factors such as interest in field, academic ability, familiarity, economic
stability, and influential people can all play a role in the decision. Zing (2007) revealed that
personal liking of an individual towards a particular subject contributes in his career selection
decision. Shertzer and Stone (2003) as cited in Ahad (2017) found that the interest depicted by
students in some subjects will mostly lead to the better examination performance and selection
of profession in the same direction. Alexander et al. (2011) found that the liking of the subject
has chief significance when looking at the factors contributing in professional direction adopted
by students. Even though technology continues to evolve and grow, there will always be a
demand for trade centered on who want to work straight out of high school. Some high school
students join the armed forces after graduating. Such students may want to follow the path of
their parents or find that military service is a way to pay for more education. The armed forces
can help students who struggle with structure and motivation, something that students need
when continuing on to college or trade school (Gilroy, 2007). Some students will go to trade
schools instead of attending college. Trade schools can provide training in fields such as
mechanics, welding, electricity, or plumbing. The short school year allows students to go to
work more quickly after graduating from high school instead of having to stay in school for four
or more years. Trade schools also allow students to work in a field of interest while going to
school.
Furthermore, career growth is an ongoing process for some people; they get engaged in
different jobs through choosing amongst job opportunities available in the market. Every
person undertaking the procedure of choosing opportunities objective by many factors, context
they live in, personal aptitudes, and educational skills (Bandura, Barbaranelli, Caprara and
Pastorelli, 2001 as cited in Ahmed (2017). It is natural that people always try to forecast or
direct sometimes the future which is uncertain, so as students, always try to plan their careers
for a secure future where superior job opportunities are the important factor that might
prejudice the career choices. A career plan would help students to feel contented in their job
which will directly leads to satisfaction. Preliminary career choices is an intellectual
developmental job that youngsters are projected to have accomplished by the end of their high
school year. Wide range of difference was found when mature students were surveyed, as they
were not influenced by the culture but by securing their future. It is also found endeavor sought
to determine relationships among two or more variables. Correlation research helps make
more intelligent predictions and seeks to investigate whether one or more relationships of
some type exist. In this study, the factors affecting the career choice of the students were
quantified using weighted mean procedures and were interpreted using a set of descriptors.
SYNTHESIS
In today's fast-paced society, career planning plays a crucial role in ensuring future
financial stability and career success. With the rise of information technology, students face
increasingly complex career choices. According to Issa and Nwalo (2008), career decision-
making is a pivotal moment in an individual’s life, significantly influencing their future role in
society. Super, as cited by Witko (2005), emphasizes the importance of career planning during
adolescence, a stage coinciding with high school years in the Philippines. Failing to plan one's
career can lead to societal issues such as underemployment, as argued by Pascual (2014), who
links this issue to a mismatch between workforce needs and graduates' qualifications.
Misaligned career decisions result in wasted resources and unfulfilled personal potential
(Ahmed, Sharif, & Ahmad, 2017).
Students recognize the importance of career planning, and their career decisions are
influenced by a variety of factors, with family, friends, teachers, and coaches playing significant
roles (Wildman & Torres, 2002). Career decisions are also shaped by personal interest,
academic ability, and expectations of future economic stability (Zing, 2007). Research has
shown that students who have a personal liking for certain subjects often perform better
academically and are more likely to pursue related careers (Shertzer & Stone, 2003).
Moreover, career planning is not static; it is a continuous process that evolves with
market demands, educational background, and personal aspirations (Bandura et al., 2001).
Some students may also choose alternative paths such as military service or trade schools,
seeking quicker entry into the workforce or aligning with family traditions (Gilroy, 2007).
Ultimately, successful career planning helps students feel content in their chosen professions,
contributing to their long-term job satisfaction.
