Elucidating Higher Education Student’s Career Choice Decision in China
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53797/icccmjssh.v3i5.14.2024Keywords:
Higher education, student, career choice decision, ChinaAbstract
Career choice decisions in higher education institutions remain affected by a variation of consideration and circumstances. As a result, students frequently traverse across a composite back-and-forth of intrinsic as well as extrinsic dynamics on career trails. Furthermore, access to career guiding, mentorship, and experiential learning opportunities, such as internships and co-ops, plays a crucial role in shaping career pathways. Technological advancements and the evolving nature of work linger, triggering students to consider careers in emerging fields, often leading to more interdisciplinary choices. Eventually, the purpose of this article is to expand the ongoing discussions regarding the issue of career choice decisions; theories related to career choice decision; factors influencing career choice decision; besides challenges in career choice decision. Furthermore, this article aims to expand on the suggestion in career choice decisions as well as recommendations for future research. The conclusion drawn from this article is that a career is more than just a job – it is a long-term pursuit that can provide personal fulfilment, financial stability, and a sense of purpose. Therefore, higher education institutions need to provide comprehensive support systems to guide students in making informed and sustainable career decisions that align with both personal aspirations and market realities. The importance of choosing a career lies in its ability to provide direction and focus for student goals and aspirations.
Downloads
References
Ai, C., Zhang, Y., & Duan, J. (2020). Investigation on the status quo of college students’ career selection. Lifelong Education, 9(6), 100-102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18282/le.v9i6.1311
Alolga, R. N., Kassim, S. A. & Dramou, P. (2022). Study destination choice and career preferences of international students at China Pharmaceutical University. Pharmacy, 10(149), 1-15. DOI:10.3390/pharmacy10060149
Bi, Y., Mou, S., Wang, G. & Liao, M. (2023). The relationship between professional self-concept and career decision-making difficulties among postgraduate nursing students in China: The mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1-17. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1198974
Blanchard, C.A. & Lichtenberg, J.W. (2003) Compromise in career decision making: a test of Gottfredson’s theory. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 62(2), 250–271. DOI:10.1016/S0001-8791(02)00026-X
Boo, S. & Kim, S. H. (2020). Career indecision and coping strategies among undergraduate students. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 32(2), 63-76. DOI:10.1080/10963758.2020.1730860
Bridges, W. (1991). Managing transitions: Making the most of change. New York City: Hachette Books.
Brott, P. E. (1993). Gottfredson’s theory of circumscription and compromise: Implications for career counselling. Washington: Educational Resources Information Center.
Brown, D. (2002). Career choice and development. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Chen, J. (2024). Career choices and development among Chinese vocational college students. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 13(11), 75-83. DOI: 10.5861/ijrse.2024.24722
Chen, J. & Muktar, S. N. (2022). To Stay or Leave: A Career Dilemma Faced by Chinese College Counselors. International Journal of Chinese Education, 11(3), 1-115. DOI:10.1177/2212585X221138573
Chen, S., Chen, H., Ling, H. and Gu, X. (2022). An Online Career Intervention for Promoting Chinese High School Students’ Career Readiness. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-9. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.815076
Choveaux, B. N & Leng, Y. (2024). The impact of proactive personality and self-esteem on career decision making self-efficacy of university students in Botswana: A mediation analysis. International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 12(1), 72-81. DOI:10.30574/ijsra.2024.12.1.0730
Dawes, R. V. & Lofquist, L. H. (1984). A psychological theory of work adjustment. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Dawes, R.V. (1994). The theory of work adjustment as convergent theory. In M. L. Savikas, & R. W. Lent, (Eds.), Convergence in career development theories: Implications for science and practice (pp. 33-43). Palo Alto: CPP Books.
Duan, J., Ren, X., Luo, W. & Tian, X. (2022). The influence of family social class on career choice: From the perspective of social cognition. Environment and Social Psychology, 6(2), 13-26. DOI:10.18063/esp.v6.i2.1386.
Duckworth, A. L., Quirk, A., Gallop, R., Hoyle, R. H., Kelly, D. R., & Matthews, M. D. (2019). Cognitive and noncognitive predictors of success. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 116(47), 23499–23504. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1910510116
Gao, W. L. & Wang, H. P. (2024). Educational choice and the willingness to apply of higher vocational students in Guangdong Province, China: The mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy. Higher Education Studies, 14(2), 148-160. DOI:10.5539/hes.v14n2p148
George, C. (2024). Career development theories and graduate employment. Asia Pacific Career Development Association, 1(6), 40-43. Retrieved from https://asiapacificcda.org/p0001_12
Goh, M. & Jamaluddin, H. (2021). Influences of university students’ career decisions. Issues and Perspectives in Business and Social Sciences, 1(1), 28-44. DOI:10.33093/ipbss.2021.1.1.4
Gu, X., Tang, M., Chen, S. & Montgomery, M. (2020). Effects of a career course on Chinese high school students’ career decision‐making readiness. The Career Development Quarterly, 68(3), 222-237. DOI:10.1002/cdq.12233.
Guo, L., Sangsawang, T., Vipahasna, P., Pigultong, M., Punyayodhin, S. & Darboth, K. (2024). Statistical approach to evaluating the efficacy of career guidance programs on university graduate employability in China. Journal of Applied Data Sciences, 5(1), 279-293. DOI:10.47738/jads.v5i1.172
Hadiyati, M. & Astuti, B. (2023). Student careers: What factors influence career choice? Journal of Education Research and Evaluation, 7(4), 608-614. DOI:10.23887/jere.v7i4.61686
Hesketh, B., Elmslie, S. & Kaldor, W. (1990). Career compromise: an alternative account to Gottfredson’s theory. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 37(1), 49-56. DOI:10.1037/0022-0167.37.1.49
Holland, J. L. (1997). Making vocational choices: A theory of vocational personalities and work environments. Florida: Psychological Assessment Resources.
Huang, H. & Curle, S. (2021). Higher education medium of instruction and career prospects: an exploration of current and graduated Chinese students’ perceptions. Journal of Education and Work, 34(3), 331–343. DOI:10.1080/13639080.2021.1922617
Hui, C. Yuen, M. & Lee, Q. A. Y. (2020). Factors affecting career and life planning of Chinese cross-border senior secondary school students in Hong Kong. Asia Pacific Career Development Journal, 3(2), 19-30. Retrieved from http://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Resources/APCDJ/A0003_2_02.pdf
Jing, T. Chung, E., Gregory, M. L. & Abdullah, J. (2024). Towards sustainable education: Exploring the intention to pursue vocational higher education among senior high school students in Ningxia, China. Asian Journal of University Education, 20(2), 498-511. DOI:10.24191/ajue.v20i2.27398
Kleine, A. K., Schmitt, A. & Keller, A. C. (2023). Career planning and self-efficacy as predictors of students’ career-related worry: Direct and mediated pathways. Journal of Career Development, 50(1), 185-199. DOI:10.1177/08948453221078950
Kong, S. C. & Yuen, C. N. (2022). An analysis of the attitudes and behaviors of university students and perceived contextual factors in alternative assessment during the pandemic using the attitude–behavior–context model. Heliyon, 8, 1-9. DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11180
Kulcar, V., Dobrean, A. & Gati, I. (2020). Challenges and difficulties in career decision making: Their causes, and their effects on the process and the decision. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 116(A), 1-22. DOI:10.1016/j.jvb.2019.103346
Lee, A. & Jung, E. (2022). University students’ career adaptability as a mediator between cognitive emotion regulation and career decision-making self-efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1-17. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.896492
Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (1994). Toward a unifying social cognitive theory of career and academic interest, choice, and performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 45, 79-122. doi:10.1006/jvbe.1994.1027
Leung, S.A. (2008). The big five career theories. In J.A. Athanasou, R. Van Esbroeck (Eds.), International handbook of career guidance (pp. 115-132). Dordrecht: Springer. DOI:10.1007/978-1-4020-6230-8_6
Linge, D. & Kosnin, A. M. (2024). Revisiting reliability and validity of career decision-making self-efficacy short-form scale among college students in China. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(5), 1056-1066. DOI:10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i5/21556
Li, H. (2024). Hysteresis of habitus: Social origin and career decision-making among Chinese PhD students. Higher Education, 10, 1-15, DOI:10.1007/s10734-024-01320-z
Liu, X., Zhang, X., Dang, Y. & Gao, W. (2023). Career education skills and career adaptability among college students in China: The mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy. Behavioral Science, 13(9), 1-13. DOI:10.3390/bs13090780
Ng, T. W., Yim, F. H., Chen, H., & Zou, Y. (2024). Employer-sponsored career development practices and employee performance and turnover: A meta-analysis. Journal of Management, 50(2), 685-721. DOI:10.1177/01492063221125143
Osborn, D. S., Marks, L. R., Sampson, J. P., Jr., Peterson, G. W., Reardon, R. C., & Lenz, J. G. (2023). Readiness for career choices and career interventions. In J. P. Sampson, Jr., J. G. Lenz, E. Bullock-Yowell, D. S. Osborn, & S. C. W. Hayden (Eds.), Cognitive information processing: Career theory, research and practice (pp. 124–146). Tallahassee: Florida State Open Publishing.
Pang, L., Wang, X., Liu, F., Fang, T., Chen, H. & Wen, Y. (2021). The relationship between college students’ resilience and career decision-making difficulties: The mediating role of career adaptability. Psychology, 12(6), 872-886. DOI:10.4236/psych.2021.126053
Patton, W. & McMohan, M. (2006). Career development and systems theory: Connecting theory and practice. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
Pham, M., Lam, B. Q. & Bui, A. T. N. (2024). Career exploration and its influence on the relationship between self-efficacy and career choice: The moderating role of social support. Heliyon, 10(11), 1-12. DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31808
Qingrui, C. (2024, 26 May). College graduates already land 3.76 million jobs. Global Times. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202405/1313041.shtml
Ran, Z., Zeb, S., Nisar, F., Yasmin, F., Poulova, P. & Haider, S. A. (2022). The impact of emotional intelligence on career decision-making difficulties and generalized self-efficacy among university students in China. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 15, 865-874. DOI:10.2147/PRBM.S358742
Savickas, M.L. (2013). Career construction theory and practice. In S.D. Brown & R.W Lent (Eds.), Career development and counselling: Putting theory and research into work (pp. 149-181). Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.
Shao, H. (2023). Career considerations when working with Chinese international students. Asia Pacific Career Development Journal, 6(1), 101-110. Retrieved from http://AsiaPacificCDA.org/Resources/APCDJ/A0006_1_07.pdf
Shi, H. (2023). The generation mechanism underlying the career decision-making difficulties faced by undergraduates in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study based on SCCT theory. Frontiers in Education, 14, 1-12. 43. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1154243
Shiozaki, K. (2024, June 23). China’s new graduates face job crunch with only 48% receiving offers. Nikkei Asia. https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/China-s-new-graduates-face-job-crunch-with-only-48-receiving-offers
Siddiky, M. R. & Shahanaz, A. (2021). The students’ career choice and job preparedness strategies: A social environmental perspective. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 10(2), 421-431. DOI:10.11591/ijere.v10i2.21086
Song, C., Xu, X. & Hashim, S. B. (2024). How does perceived social support affect the career satisfaction of Chinese college graduates in their early careers? A chain mediation model. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 8, 1-31. DOI:10.1007/s10775-024-09667-6
Textor, C. (2024, May 31). Number of graduates from public colleges and universities in China between 2013 and 2023. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/227272/number-of-university-graduates-in-china/#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20a%20record%20high,colleges%20and%20universities%20in%20China
Tian, X., Huang, B., Li., H, Xie, S., Afzal, K., Si, J. & Hu, D. (2021). How parenting styles link career decision-making difficulties in Chinese college students? The mediating effects of core self-evaluation and career calling. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1-10. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.661600
Vygotsky, L. (2020). Educational psychology. London: Taylor & Francis.
Wang, Z., Fan, C. & Niu, J. (2023). Predicting effects of career adaptability and educational identity on the career decision-making of Chinese higher vocational students. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 30, 1-20. DOI:10.1007/s10775-023-09591-1
Wang, X. H., Wang, H. P., & WenYa, L. (2023). Improving the Quality of Career Decision-making of Students in Chinese Higher Vocational Colleges. Sage Open, 13(2). 1-14. DOI:10.1177/21582440231180105
Wu, Y. (2020). Study abroad experience and career decision-making: A qualitative study of Chinese students. Frontiers of Education in China, 15, 313–331. DOI:10.1007/s11516-020-0014-8
Xiaoqing, Y., & Noordin, Z. M. (2024). Career readiness in Chinese universities: Challenges and opportunities in career guidance education. Journal of Digitainability, Realism & Mastery (DREAM), 3(05), 148-156. DOI:10.56982/dream.v3i05.244
Xu, C., Xiang, F., Duan, R., Miralles-Cardona, C., Huo, X. & Xu, J. (2023). An analysis of factors influencing Chinese university students’ major choice from the perspective of gender differences. Sustainability, 15, 1-13. DOI:10.3390/su151814037
Yang, T., Zheng, M., Wang, H. & Zhu, Y. (2024). Identifying subgroups of career decision-making difficulties in Chinese college students: A latent profile analysis. Current Psychology, 43(26), 1-14. DOI:10.1007/s12144-024-06026-0.
Zhang, D. & Phakdeephirot, N. (2023). Analysis of the choice of technical school students after graduation: A case study of Sichuan City Technician College in China. Frontiers in Business, Economics and Management, 11(2), 343-351. DOI:10.54097/fbem.v11i2.12637
Zhang, H., Zhang, Y. & Wu, S. (2022). The Influencing Factors on College Students’ Career Choices in the Post-epidemic Era: Evidence from China. Proceedings of the 2022 6th International Seminar on Education, Management and Social Sciences, 687, 3513-3527 DOI:10.2991/978-2-494069-31-2_412.
Zuo, M. & Nulimaimaiti, M. (2024, Jan 19). China jobs: How young graduates and universities are really coping with elevated unemployment. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/2024/01/19/china-jobs-how-young-graduates-and-universities-are-really-coping-with-elevated-unemployment
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Bao Kexin , Zaheril Zainudin
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
