Future Career Expectations Research Articles

A qualitative case study on the evaluation of work-related depression in hotel workers: Kuşadası sample

Work-related depression is a state of inactivity, inability to future, uncertainty about what to do in the future, and giving up trying. Depression both harms the individual and poses an economic risk for the workplace. This study is an interdisciplinary study that aims to examine the problems experienced in the tourism sector in terms of mental health. The study aims to evaluate work-related depression symptoms, risk factors, and protective factors in hotel employees. The study was conducted in 5-star hotels in Kusadasi, one of the major tourism centers in Turkiye. Interviews were conducted with 15 volunteers working in different positions in six hotels determined by a purposive sampling method. The data obtained were analyzed by content analysis. Research findings were categorized under two themes: risk factors and protective factors. The findings suggest that factors such as workplace injustice, stress, and negative relationships (with customers, other employees, and family members) can be risk factors for workplace depression in hotel employees, whereas positive personality traits, social relationships, and economic security are protective factors. In addition, positive and negative future career expectations were found to be workplace-related variables.

Future Time Perspective, Perceived Personal Competence And Career Decision Making Among Pre-University Students.

Career decision-making is a complex process influenced by various psychological and contextual factors. This qualitative study explores the relationship between Future Time Perspective (FTP) and Career Decision-Making among pre-university students in India, while also examining the moderating role of Personal Competence. Using thematic analysis, six major themes emerged: Career Awareness and Planning, Self-Perception and Competence, Influences on Career Choices, Career Decision-Making Strategies, Future Career Expectations, and Strategies for Success. The findings indicate that students with a strong future orientation engage more actively in career planning, but external influences and self-doubt often create uncertainty. Personal competence plays a crucial role in decision-making, as students with higher self-confidence and adaptability translate future goals into actionable steps more effectively. However, those with lower competence struggle to bridge the gap between aspirations and actions. The study highlights the importance of career guidance, mentorship, and structured skill-building initiatives to support students in making informed career choices. These insights contribute to the growing discourse on career decision-making by emphasizing the need for holistic interventions that address both future-oriented thinking and self-efficacy.

Metaphoric perceptions of Turkish students on career decision-making self-efficacies and career expectations

The purpose of this study was to explore how gender, age, school type, grade level, residence, family income, family size, and parents’ education level influence students’ career decision-making self-efficacy. Additionally, the current study sought to uncover the metaphors high school students (HSS) use to articulate their perceptions of career decision-making and future career expectations, and how these metaphors reflect key constructs of the Social Cognitive Career Theory. The study involved 308 HSS and utilized an explanatory mixed-method research design. The results indicated a significant difference in the collection of career-related information and mean scores by school type. It was found that HSS perceived a high level of self-efficacy and career barriers concerning their career decision-making and future career. Another finding was that negative environmental factors create a sense of uncertainty in students’ expectations. The findings pointed to the need for counseling services to navigate students’ career decisions effectively.

A Qualitative Study of Career Motivations and Career Expectations of Malaysian Dental Therapist: Post New Dental Regulations.

To explore the Malaysian dental therapists' perceptions regarding the provisions concerning them in the new dental act and potential market changes, considering their current career motivations and expectations. Dental therapists from two major public dental organisations in the East-Peninsular Malaysia (n = 26) were invited to participate in an audiotaped semi-structured interview using a pre-tested topic-guide informed by workforce policy and research literature. The qualitative data were transcribed and analysed using Framework Analysis. The research conducted with dental therapists (n = 26) identified four motivation domains namely 'altruism', 'personal and academic inspiration', 'profession characteristics' and 'career advising and social influences' as key factors motivating their choice of a professional career as dental therapists, influenced by work-life balance and financial stability. They were also aware of the new dental act and its potential implications, particularly regarding their future career expectations. The majority felt the necessity 'to improve their skills and knowledge' within the first 5 years as part of their short-term career plans. A few participants expressed a desire to 'pursue a higher level of education' and 'wished to join the private sector' in the long-term. They perceived the possibility of 'working in the private sector' to increase their income and believed that they did not require any additional training for such a transition. Malaysian dental therapists welcomed the changes in the new act, which allow them to work across sectors. Many perceived themselves as adequately motivated and equipped to transition to different work settings without requiring additional training.

The influence of music performance anxiety on career expectations of early musical career students: self-efficacy as a moderator.

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is recognized as a distinct emotional behavior rather than merely a motor control disorder and is influenced by specific conditioning experiences. This study investigates the interrelationships between MPA, self-efficacy, and future career expectations among music students within the Chinese context. The participants of this study were 340 high school students majoring in music education and performance, drawn from three music schools in China. Data were collected using several questionnaires: the MPA Inventory for Adolescents (MPAI-A), the Self-Efficacy Formative Questionnaire, and the Career Futures Inventory (CFI). The findings indicate that MPA is negatively associated with self-efficacy and future career expectations. Additionally, self-efficacy acts as a partial moderator between MPA and career expectations, suggesting that enhancing the self-efficacy of music students can boost their future career aspirations and mitigate the adverse effects of MPA. This research explores the complex relationships among MPA, self-efficacy, and future career expectations, emphasizing the importance of curriculum and pedagogical strategies in music schools. Music students with high levels of self-efficacy may exhibit more confidence and stable performances before audiences. According to the panel regression analysis, self-efficacy significantly positively influences career expectations. An appropriate educational environment and supportive pedagogical approaches to MPA can foster the early career development of musicians.

Future career expectations of college students - the contribution of disability status, self-advocacy, self-efficacy, and support

ABSTRACT This study examined future career expectations of college students with and without learning disabilities (LD) and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) while focusing on the contribution of academic self-efficacy, self-advocacy, and family and academic support. Among participants with disabilities, assistance from support centres was also examined. Participants were 342 college students: 179 with LD and/or ADHD and 163 without disabilities. They completed a self-advocacy questionnaire, a general academic self-efficacy scale, a future expectations scale, and a background questionnaire. Whereas students with LD and/or ADHD reported lower levels of academic self-efficacy than students without disabilities, there were no significant differences between the two groups in future expectations. One component of self-advocacy (knowledge of self), family support, and academic self-efficacy were significant predictors of participants’ future career expectations. When participants with disabilities were examined separately, only knowledge of self and academic self-efficacy were significant predictors. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Professional experience before a PhD. Does it pay off?

The number of PhD graduates has been increasing yearly, but the job opportunities in Academia remain the same. This pattern will intensify the pressure on PhD students to look for other possible careers. Past work experiences, due to their developmental potential, occupy a prominent place in the career development paradigm. However, more is needed to know about the professional path of PhD students before they entered the PhD. This study aimed to explore PhD students’ previous professional experience, focusing on the extent to which previous experiences determine students’ perception and development of career expectations. A quantitative research approach was followed among 377 PhD students at a Portuguese Higher Education Institution (HEI). Results show that regardless of their previous work experiences, PhD students value career options related to research, preferably within Academia. However, in terms of career development, students who have diverse work experiences reported feeling more prepared to put into practice actions to prepare their career than students with professional experience in Academia or no professional experience. This study confirms that PhD students’ previous work experiences pay off by making a difference in the feeling of preparedness for career development, whereas in terms of student’s future career expectations after the PhD, it did not allow for a definite answer, as it seems that all professional groups prefer similar research-oriented paths. Intervention must be done simultaneously on an individual and contextual level, allowing students to have experiences during the PhD and promoting the reflection on these experiences so students may feel more prepared to develop their future careers. For companies, intervention should focus on showing the PhDs’ added value and also the potential of incorporating the R&D dimensions within their jobs. Failing to do so may contribute to enhancing the employability challenges faced by the growing number of PhD holders.

What Do They Want from a Career? University Students’ Future Career Expectations and Resources in a Health Crisis Context

Young people and students, in particular, have often been presented as being particularly affected by the health crisis and its various psychological, social, and economic consequences. In this context, the present study sought to better understand the links between the anxiety generated by this crisis regarding one’s professional future, the resources available, and future career expectations. A total of 585 higher education students participated in the study during the third lockdown in France and completed a questionnaire that focused on anxiety and apprehension about the future, psychological and adaptative resources, and preferences for dimensions of new careers (kaleidoscopic, sustainable, protean, boundaryless, and opportunistic). The results show, on the one hand, significant links between anxiety, optimism, hope, career adaptability and preferences expressed for dimensions of new careers; on the other hand, dimensions that are more preferred than others. Finally, these results will be discussed in relation to the correlations already highlighted in the literature between individuals and career expectations, and to the more global reflection on the future of work. Possible avenues in the field of career counselling will be proposed.

Gender differences in high school students' STEM career expectations: An analysis based on multi‐group structural equation model

Abstract Gender gaps in STEM fields have been studied for a long time, and the primary focus has been on the relationship among social support (parents and teachers), STEM beliefs (STEM interest belief, self‐efficacy belief, and value belief), and STEM career expectations. Framed in Expectancy‐Value Models, this article aimed to explore how social support affects students' STEM career expectations directly and indirectly through STEM beliefs. Further, a gender study was conducted to examine the differences in structural relations between male and female student groups using multiple‐group structural equation modeling. A total of 798 10th grade students were surveyed in mainland China. The results showed that (1) male students performed better than female students in STEM career expectations, STEM value beliefs, STEM self‐efficacy beliefs, as well as parents' and teachers' support; (2) female students' STEM career expectations could be predicted by parental support, STEM value beliefs, and STEM interest beliefs, while male students' STEM career expectations were positively influenced by parental support, STEM self‐efficacy, and STEM interest beliefs. Hence, there were apparent gender differences regarding STEM interest beliefs, STEM self‐efficacy and their relationship toward future career expectations. Specifically, STEM interest beliefs were positively correlated with STEM career expectations of female students, whereas STEM self‐efficacy could only significantly influence male students' STEM career expectations.

From the Periphery to the Center: Young People's Agonistic Pathways Towards Higher Education

The present research analyzes the mobilities of young people from the periphery of Rio de Janeiro towards a renowned university situated in a central region of the city. Focusing on a case study with four students, we carried out an in-depth investigation of the dynamics of their professional trajectories. Their personal identifications and values, their future career expectations and the pressures and the demands of attending such a university were investigated. Three focus groups meetings were organized with these students. The results show that the displacement from home to the university, social and racial segregation, and arduous academic demands are factors that pose enormous difficulties to these students and require intense psychological work on their part to persist in their educational investment. Intense conflicts with regards to living up to their ideals characterize an agonistic pathway in their educational endeavor. On the other hand, the prestige of the university, family influence and the belief in upward social mobility were found to support these young people’s decision not to give up. This contradictory dynamic, riddled with uncertainties, mobilizes these young people to find a way to permanently renovate their personal stakes in higher education.

Does Private High School Attendance Affect Preferred University Track Choice? A Research Perspective

Abstract Studies in different countries comparing the quality of education in private and public schools have used a variety of measurement methods to determine educational quality and findings have been mixed. For the unique situation of Greece, the variable of student admission to the Greek university system, depending on whether the student’s secondary education was in the public or the private system, provides an apt outcome variable to measure relative educational quality. We provide estimates of the effect of private secondary schooling in Greece on students’ admission to their preferred university academic department, using data from nationwide surveys conducted identically in 2000 and 2015. This repeated-measures research design allowed us to compare the same set of factors between the two administrations, thus examining for the stability or change of their contribution over time. Our final sample consisted of 4740 secondary school students. We used a weighted questionnaire to investigate the effect of private schooling on the trajectory to university. In our empirical model, a multinomial logistic regression was performed to classify subjects based on values of a set of predictor variables. Results indicate that attending a private high school offers secondary education students a significantly higher probability of stepping successfully into an academic department of higher relevance to their academic preferences and future career expectations. We also find that private high school education significantly minimizes the efforts required for a student to enter a desirable university department. Positive correlations between the attendance of private high school education and demographic attributes of both students and their families were also found. Research and policy recommendations are included.

Information science identity: Students' perspective

Abstract We present a qualitative study that maps Library and Information Science (LIS) students' understanding of their information science identity. The mapping is achieved through exploring multiple aspects of this identity, including students' conceptualization of the field and related disciplines, their evaluation of coursework, and their future career expectations. Twelve semi‐structured interviews were conducted with undergraduate and graduate LIS students in the spring of 2020. Five themes were identified through the coding process, which include: how students conceptualized the field in general, the people focus in information science, students' explicit expression of difficulty in describing the field, coursework representative of information science, and how students relate information science studies to their intended career path. Leveraging the students' perspective to frame this identity question is valuable, because it offers an opportunity to understand the Library and Information Science identity in its formative stages.

Theology in the global research and educational realm

The article addresses the role of theology in the modern international research and educational realm in terms of its presence in the global university rankings such as QS World University Rankings and THE World University Rankings, the number of educational programs offered by the world’s leading universities and theology degrees awarded, as well as the positions of the journals publishing the results of research in the field of theology in the Scopus bibliometric database. The analysis of the data collected and generalized, during the preparation of the article, clearly demonstrates the importance of theology in modern secular higher education. Theology is taught in a significant part of the world’s leading universities which offer a wide range of educational programs and provide the opportunity to choose an educational path and to continue education taking into account both the future career expectations of the students and the religious tradition they are interested in. The first and second quartiles (Q1 and Q2) of the Scopus database include a significant number of journals publishing the results of research in theology, primarily in the field of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. In addition, the analysis of the SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJR) rating shows an upward trend in the number of periodicals in religious studies, including publications in theology, and provides grounds to predict an increase in their number over the coming decades.

Self-efficacy and future career expectations of at-risk adolescents: The contribution of a tutoring program.

Tutoring and mentoring programs may be a promisingintervention to help at-risk children who may be in need of a positive influence in their lives. The purpose of the current study was to examine the contribution of tutoring to at-risk adolescents' self-efficacy and future career expectations. Ninety-eight tutees and 147 college student tutors completed the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children, the Work and Education subscale of the Future Expectations Scale for Adolescents, and a background questionnaire twice: first at the beginning and then toward the end of 8 months of tutoring. Both tutees and tutors reported higher levels of tutees' social and emotional self-efficacy as well as future expectations toward the end of the year. Tutors also reported higher levels of tutee academic self-efficacy. Increased self-efficacy was associated with increased levels of future expectations. Changes in academic and social self-efficacy predicted changes in tutees' future career expectations. Implications for theory and research are discussed.

Explaining university students’ career path intentions from their current entrepreneurial exposure

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to predict future career paths of university students, distinguishing between paid employment, running one’s own independent business and running a family business. The main predictor is the students’ current mode of entrepreneurial exposure, both in terms of the students running their own business, and in terms of their parents running their own business.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a comprehensive survey held in May 2013 among 1,490 business and law students of Kozminski University in Warsaw, Poland. To predict future career expectations in ten years’ time, multinomial logit regressions were employed.FindingsThe authors find that, among students with a family business background, those students who are actively involved in their parents’ business are significantly more likely to pursue joining the family firm, rather than starting their own business.Practical implicationsIn order to stimulate business succession, universities with a large proportion of students with family business background may consider launching dedicated programs promoting the interest of students in the businesses run by their parents.Originality/valueThe authors investigate to what extent active participation of university students in their parents’ business is associated with a higher probability to pursue a career in family business. The research has important implications in light of the increasing difficulty in Europe to find successors for family businesses.

WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS? EXAMINING A MODEL OF ANTECEDENTS OF CAREER EXPECTATIONS

ABSTRACT Purpose: Analyze if the perceptions about policies and practices on human resources management (HRM), well-being at work and expectations of organizational future act as antecedents of career expectations in the organization. Originality/gap/relevance/implications: The question "What will my future be in this organization?" is a relevant part of working life. Thus, it is important to assess which variables influence future career expectations. Based on theoretical contributions and previous surveys about career, well-being and HRM, the model tested coordinates variables that are analyzed in isolate by literature. Key methodological aspects: In this quantitative survey, 305 professionals from a government agency completed an e-questionnaire with scales validated in Brazil. Data were analyzed through structural equations models. Summary of key results: The effects of well-being at work and expected future in the organization on the career expectations were positive and moderate, in the first case, and strong in the second case. The effect of perceptions of HR policies and practices on career expectations was completely mediated by well-being at work and expectations of organizational future. Key considerations/conclusions: Results support the relations theoretically conceived or found in previous qualitative surveys. In practical terms, data suggest that improving HR policies and practices can increase well-being at work and expectations of organizational future and, finally, foster positive career expectations in the organization. Considering that the research was limited to one organization, future investigations should analyze the model in other organizations.

Adoption of geodemographic and ethno-cultural taxonomies for analysing Big Data

This paper is intended to contribute to the discussion of the differential level of adoption of Big Data among research communities. Recognising the impracticality of conducting an audit across all forms and uses of Big Data, we have restricted our enquiry to one very specific form of Big Data, namely general purpose taxonomies, of which Mosaic, Acorn and Origins are examples, that rely on data from a variety of Big Data feeds. The intention of these taxonomies is to enable the records of consumers and citizens held on Big Data datasets to be coded according to type of residential neighbourhood or ethno-cultural heritage without any use of questionnaires. Based on our respective experience in the academic social sciences, in government and in the design and marketing of these taxonomies, we identify the features of these classifications which appear to render them attractive or problematic to different categories of potential user or researcher depending on how the relationship is conceived. We conclude by identifying seven classifications of user or potential user who, on account of their background, current position and future career expectations, tend to respond in different ways to the opportunity to adopt these generic systems as aids for understanding social processes.

On The Exchange of Hostility With Supervisors: An Examination of Self‐Enhancing and Self‐Defeating Perspectives

We invoke competing theoretical perspectives to examine the consequences for subordinates of involvement in relationships that vary in terms of downward hostility (i.e., hostility enacted by supervisors against direct reports) and upward hostility (i.e., hostility enacted by subordinates against immediate supervisors). Consistent with the perspective that targets of downward hostility are less likely to see themselves as victims when they perform acts of upward hostility, analysis of 2‐wave data from a sample of supervised employees suggested that upward hostility weakens the deleterious effects of downward hostility on subordinates’ job satisfaction, affective commitment, and psychological distress. Study 2 directly examined the presumed mechanism that underlies the effects observed in Study 1. In a 3‐wave sample, support was found for a moderated‐indirect effect framework in which the indirect effects of downward hostility on subordinates’ attitudes and psychological distress (through victim identity) were weaker when upward hostility was higher. Study 2 results also suggested that the enhancing effect of upward hostility generalizes to subjective indicators of career satisfaction and future career expectations.

Understanding Employees' Responses to Unmet Career Expectations: A Social Cognitive Theory Approach

This study analyzed the moderating role of future career expectations and efficacy beliefs in employees’ responses to unmet career expectations by drawing on the premises of agentic approach in soc...

Comparison of surgical operative experience of trainees and practicing vascular surgeons: A report from the Vascular Surgery Board of the American Board of Surgery

Comparison of surgical operative experience of trainees and practicing vascular surgeons: A report from the Vascular Surgery Board of the American Board of Surgery