Abstract
This empirical study was conducted to identify the different factors that influence Pakistani student’s career choices. Five leading professions i.e. business and management sciences, medical, pharmacy, engineering, and agriculture were selected to identify the factors. A survey was conducted using a close-ended Likert scale type questionnaire on the sample of 523 students from the mentioned background. Multi-criteria decision analysis technique applies to rank the professions from best to worse one by using PROMETHEE. Further analysis was done using the Structured Equation Modeling and Confirmatory Factor Analysis technique. The results suggest that the medical profession is superior among other professions after that engineering profession was ranked 2, business administration ranked 3, pharmacy ranked 4 and the agriculture profession was ranked 5. Results also indicate that personal interest, self-esteem, and societal influence were major factors that significantly impact the career selection of business and management. For the medical profession, self-efficacy and self-esteem found to have a positive influence. For the pharmacy profession, growth opportunities, psychological factors, self-efficacy, and self-esteem have a significant influence. For the engineering profession psychological factor, self-efficacy and societal influence show positive affect. For the agriculture profession, self-esteem, psychological factor, and growth opportunities show favorable results. The findings will provide valuable information to policymakers and recruiters to keep in mind the factors that affect students when they associated with these professions.
Highlights
1.1 Background to the StudyProfession selection is an important decision for any student
When we talk about the career choices or profession selection the question that comes in our minds is what the students would like to be and why? The answer of this question usually depends on student interest, parental background, environmental and societal influences etc. it means we can say that selection of profession for students will vary culture to culture, person to person and society to society
This study proved that Indian management students who have highly influenced in individualistic culture will not give value to family members, relationships and social networks while taking profession selection decisions, on the other hand those students who have high collectivism give value and take support from others like family members, teachers, siblings etc in their career selection process so father is considered to be a most influential person that shape the children career decision process in management sciences in India (Agarwala, 2008b), this study expose two types of career orientations protean and conventional
Summary
1.1 Background to the StudyProfession selection is an important decision for any student. It means we can say that selection of profession for students will vary culture to culture, person to person and society to society. Students choose such type of professions that have high market value, growth opportunities, job security, financial benefits and highly respectable in society. Agriculture profession taking attention of students due to market acceptability. All these professions have high demand among the students and higher education institutions provide opportunities to be specialized in these disciplines which help students in their career development
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