The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of university students’ career decision self-efficacy upon career preparation behavior, thus preparing a base to help their rational career exploration and decision. For this, based on preceding...
The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of university students’ career decision self-efficacy upon career preparation behavior, thus preparing a base to help their rational career exploration and decision. For this, based on preceding studies on university students’ career decision self-efficacy upon career preparation behavior, career decision self-efficacy was established as an independent variable and career preparation behavior was established as a dependent variable, thus examining influencing relationship and level difference. In addition, by looking into demographic features via control variables in detail, a concrete and correct direction of career guidance was presented according to study subjects.
Study findings are as follows:
First, university students’ career decision self-efficacy had positive influence upon career preparation behavior. University students’ career decision self-efficacy was higher, their career preparation behavior was higher. And sub-factors of every variable also had correlations. Second, as for respondents’ demographic feature-based variables, gender had no influence upon level difference, whereas age had influence upon the level difference of self-evaluation, career planning, information collection, tool preparation and goal achievement. Regarding age, respondents in their 20 years of age and above presented a higher level in average in career planning, information collection, tool preparation and goal achievement than those of under 20 years of age did. Regarding school-year, there was level difference in career planning, information collection, tool preparation and goal achievement. By school-year, seniors’ level of career planning was higher than that of freshmen. Regarding the field of major, there was level difference in problem-solving. In expected career after graduation, respondents who wanted to go on to graduate school (or studying abroad) had higher perception of self-evaluation.
Based on study findings, suggestions are presented as follows:
First, since university students’ career decision self-efficacy is higher, their career preparation behavior is higher as well, a higher career decision self-efficacy is helpful in career preparation. In this vein, it is urgently necessary to work out a program to heighten career decision self-efficacy.
Second, since sub-factors of career decision self-efficacy had positive influence upon sub-factors of career preparation behavior, it is necessary to present a detailed direction of career guidance, based on the results of analysis on the correlations between sub-factors.
Third, it is necessary to prepare the direction and detailed program of career and employment guidance by taking the characteristics of expected career types after graduation into account, by gender, age, school-year and field of major, based on the results of demographic feature-oriented analysis.
In conclusion, university students’ career decision self-efficacy has influence upon career preparation behavior, and there is level difference by sub-variables. This finding seems to present the directivity for the guidance of career and employment and be helpful in establishing a plan of heightening career preparation behavior, which is related to client-centered specialized consulting and program operation. This study is meaningful in that by getting out of traditional uniform contents, popular programs, and career guidance that does not consider clients, it suggested client-centered counseling and programs, curricula, and plans for career guidance that could be operated by universities, and presented a base on which empirical changes for career guidance and career research could be possible.