The purpose of this reserch was to examine the influence of self-leadership upon career decision self-efficacy, employability and career preparation behavior, and also to verify the mediating effect of career decision self-efficacy and employability. ...
The purpose of this reserch was to examine the influence of self-leadership upon career decision self-efficacy, employability and career preparation behavior, and also to verify the mediating effect of career decision self-efficacy and employability. Research questions are as follows: First, ‘Is there any difference of study variables according to university students’ demographic features, employment preparation characteristics and career education/employment support program participation characteristics?’ Second, ‘What is the influential relationship among self-leadership, career decision self-efficacy, employability and career preparation behavior and what is the mediating effect of career decision self-efficacy and employability between self-leadership and career preparation behavior, based on a structural model?’ And third, ‘According to which variable among university students’ demographic features, employment preparation characteristics and career education/employment support program participation characteristics, does the path difference have statistical significance?’
Questionnaire survey of 600 students from seven universities, who attended major and cultural courses, consultation and special lectures for career and employment, and job/employment fairs, was carried out over the period from September 10 to 24, 2012. The data of 530 students were collected (collection rate: 88%) and the data of 481 students (available response rate: 90.7%) were used in data analysis.
Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 statistical programs. In order to verify the validity and reliability of test tools, multidimensional confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis were carried out. In order to examine the average difference in the level of study variables, in relation to university students’ demographic features, employment preparation characteristics and career education/employment support program participation characteristics, independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA were carried out. In order to examine the influential relationship among study variables, structural equation model analysis was carried out. Bootstrapping method was applied to examine mediating effects’ and multi-group analysis was carried out to statistically test the significant path difference among the university students' groups.
Study findings are as follows: First, there was difference of study variables(self-leadership, career decision self-efficacy, employability and career preparation behavior) according to university students’ group characteristics. Demographic features, which commonly generated difference in study variables all together, were school years and majors. Employment preparation characteristics, which generated difference in study variables, were satisfaction with university, satisfaction with majors, credits, levels of English, certificates, preparation for employment, consistency with majors, employment experience, leader experience and participation experience in leadership education. And career education/employment support program participation characteristics, which generated difference in study variables, were events and education & training.
Second, as for the influential relationship among self-leadership, career decision self-efficacy, employability and career preparation behavior, there was positive influential relationship in general. In other words, self-leadership had positive influence upon career decision self-efficacy, employability and career preparation behavior. Career decision self-efficacy also had positive influence upon employability and career preparation behavior. However, employability had no significant influence upon career preparation behavior. On the other hand, the mediating effect of career decision self-efficacy was valid, whereas that of employability was not valid. In other words, career decision self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between self-leadership and career preparation behavior, and it also seemed to partially mediate the relationship between self-leadership and employability. However, employability did not mediate the relationship between self-leadership and career preparation behavior and between career decision self-efficacy and career preparation behavior.
Third, university students’group characteristics, which had path difference of study variables, were school years, whether-or-not they participated in education and training, and whether-or-not they had the experience of using computer network for employment. In other words, the path from career decision self-efficacy to career preparation behavior was valid for lower year students(first and second year), whereas it was not valid for higher year students. On the other hand, the path from employability to career preparation behavior was valid for higher year students(third and fourth year), whereas it was not valid for lower year students. For the group of students who had the experience of participating in education and training, the path from self-leadership to career preparation behavior was valid, whereas for the group of students who had no experience of it, it was not valid. For the group of students who had no experience of using computer network for employment, the path from career decision self-efficacy to career preparation behavior was valid, whereas for the group of students who had experience of it, it was not valid.
Based on study findings, the study presents following recommendations for university students’ career development and employment preparation: First, self-leadership seemed to have positive influence upon career decision self-efficacy, employability and career preparation behavior in common. Since the outcome of variables related to university students’ career and employment was different by the level of self-leadership, it implies the importance of self-leadership development. Second, career decision self-efficacy seemed to play the role of mediating between self-leadership and career preparation behavior and had positive influence upon career preparation behavior. Therefore, when universities provide leadership education, career education and employment preparation programs all together in order to increase self-leadership and career decision self-efficacy, it seems to result in a synergic effect. Third, there was path difference of study variables according to school years. Namely, for lower years(first and second year), career decision self-efficacy had influence upon career preparation behavior, whereas employability had no influence upon it. However, for higher years(third and fourth year), employability had influence upon career preparation behavior, whereas career decision self-efficacy had no influence upon it. In this vein, it is necessary to provide a variety of stepwise career education and employment support programs, thus supporting university students’ preparation for career and employment, in order for lower year students to increase their career decision self-efficacy and for higher year students to increase their employability.