Career Preparation Research Articles

Explicating Women’s Career Transitions: Propositions and a Conceptual Model

In this conceptual article, we present an HRD model of career transitions. We used findings from extant literature to show how this model can be applied to women’s careers, which are characterized as nonlinear and complex due to the influence family life has on a woman’s career. The proposed model includes five propositions that explain how the career transition occurs in two phases: career preparation and career identity formation. These career transition phases are influenced by the individual characteristics of the woman in transition and the HRD interventions that are available and used by her. The entire process is sustained with the help of contextual supports, including workplace flexibility and inclusive organizational cultures. Future research can test this model in additional populations. This model highlights the practical role of HRD interventions and furthers theory and research related to career transitions in HRD.

A Phenomenological Exploration on Three Skill Area for Employment: Industry Practitioners’ Insights

Career readiness among graduates has become an intense focus for higher learning institutions. With the increasing reliance on technology, digital literacy cannot be the only skill that matters in the workplace. Employers and industry leaders became more vocal in highlighting the inability of graduates to confront the skill mismatch and imbalance between the university and fundamental work skills. Along with declining labour markets and the devaluation of degree qualifications as among the impacts of the COVID-19 slump and digitalization, universities are pressured to enhance their graduates’ employability. The study aims to explore the debatable work skills through the lived experiences of industry practitioners. The exploration provides a possible framework for work-demand-driven education. A descriptive phenomenological research design was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of the practical skills at work as demanded by the practitioners. A two-tiered method of interviews was employed to establish the context, relay specific details of the participants’ experiences, and contemplate the meaning of their experiences. Results show that a mainstream discourse describes human skills (communication), technical skills, and conceptual skills that help employees thrive in their careers in the brittle, anxious, nonlinear, and incomprehensible (BANI-world) new age of work. Finally, a suggested framework to promote future work skills-related learning is provided for higher staff and learners of higher education.

Pivotal Legislation Supporting College and Career Readiness for Students With Disabilities

Historically, students with disabilities experience less in-school preparation and postschool success compared with their peers without disabilities. Federal legislation has evolved in an effort to promote successful in-school and postschool success for students with disabilities. Since 1990, legislation has emphasized the importance of postschool preparation (the Individuals with Disabilities with Education Act), and more recently, the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 mandated all students be prepared for college and careers. In this article, we overview one court case ( Brown v. Board of Education) and seven pieces of pivotal legislation that had substantive impact on college and career readiness efforts. In addition, we discuss successes over time and suggest opportunities for change to enhance college and career readiness efforts.

Structural equation modelling: validation of career readiness model using psychological constructs

<span lang="EN-US">The career readiness model is needed as a reference source for relevant parties, especially universities, to implement various career development and interventions initiatives. This study was conducted to assess the reliability and validity of personality, career efficacy, career readiness skills along with indicators using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling in forming a career readiness model. Results show that each construct achieved good reliability and validity through composite reliability (CR) readings recorded between 0.78 and 0.92 to measure internal consistency reliability, while convergent validity through average variance extracted (AVE) readings exceeded 0.5. The construct of this model had also achieved discriminant validity through the recorded readings of cross loading, Fornell-Larcker and HTMT confidence intervals which did not contain the value of 1. The findings also indicate that career efficacy and career readiness skills are accurate and relevant constructs for developing a career readiness model.</span>

Analisis Kesantunan Berbahasa dalam Daftar Putar Satu Persen Taman Edukasi: Career Preparation

Within language, there are several categories, such as language politeness, which have objectives and intents that vary depending on the context and situation of human communication. In this language civility study, attention is drawn to the goals and intentions generally contained in our language usage. This study aims to identify forms of compliance and violations of the principle of language politeness on the Satu Persen playlist of Taman Edukasi: Career Preparation. This research uses two approaches, namely the qualitative descriptive approach as a methodological approach and the pragmatic approach as a theoretical approach. The technique used in collecting data is the listen-and-record technique. Data analysis of this research is presented through a data triangulation process, which includes three stages: data verification, data presentation, and data classification. The author conducted this research hoping that public knowledge about the principles of language politeness will be wider. This study aims to identify forms of compliance and violations of the principle of language politeness on the Satu Persen playlist of Taman Edukasi: Career Preparation. The results showed that in the playlist there were thimbles of generosity, wisdom, consensus, opinion, and sympathy thimbles. However, there is no thimble of apology, forgiveness, appreciation, simplicity, and feeling. Furthermore, the study's findings demonstrate the necessity for an increased awareness of the utilization of courteous and deferential language in communication, particularly concerning the realm of education and career readiness.

High-impact practices in cancer education and research: Undergraduate students' perceptions of skills and career development.

High-impact practices (HIPs) are educational practices that foster student success. HIPs have not been widely used in cancer education and research despite the need for students to develop key transferable skills and cultivate social responsibility. Our study addresses this need by implementing four community-based learning HIPs within the context of cancer education and research. Each HIP was classified as having low, moderate, or high alignment with the traits of effective HIPs. Undergraduate science students participated in one to four HIPs as a Feedback Participant, General Volunteer, Student Leader, or Cancer Undergraduate Research and Education (CURES) Class Student. We then studied the effect of these HIPs on students' development of knowledge and skills; career interest and preparedness; and social responsibility. Results from self-reported questionnaires showed that HIPs increased students' cancer knowledge and developed their transferable and technical skills. Many students reported that these HIPs strongly impacted their career preparedness; positively influenced their interest in pursuing careers in health or biomedical sciences; and encouraged them to participate in community service activities. Thus, these findings provide new insights into the perceived benefits of HIPs in cancer education and research by undergraduate students.

Effects of career readiness module on career self-efficacy among university students

<span lang="EN-US">This study aimed to identify the effects of the Career Readiness Module on career self-efficacy and its subscales, namely self-appraisal, occupational information, goal selection, planning and problem solving among university students. The randomized pretest-posttest control group were used in this study. A total of 60 second year students from the School of Computing, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, were selected as research subjects using random cluster sampling. Both groups completed the Career Decision Self-Efficacy–Short Form (CDSE-SF) and the Big Five Inventory (BFI) questionnaires before and after the two-month intervention sessions. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 23.0. The repeated-measures ANOVA and effect size were used to test the hypotheses of study. The study results showed significant differences in the experimental group for career self-efficacy and each of its subscale between pre-test, post-test 1, and post-test 2 at the p≤.05 significant level. This study also demonstrated the significance of implementing the Career Readiness Module among university students prior to graduation in order to improve their career self-efficacy.</span>

From rhetoric to reality: shaping doctoral education in China for global higher education

PurposeAlthough doctoral education has experienced substantial development in recent decades, it remains an elite, hence fragile, dimension of university policy and practice. This study aims to articulate perspectives to guide the next phase of strengthening and growth.Design/methodology/approachWorking from theoretical and empirical research conducted in China, including scholarship on workforce ecosystems, education design and the student experience, this study contributes a framework with qualitative insights which clarify the goals and experiences of doctoral education in ways that will render it more relevant, effective and contributing.FindingsThe paper identifies areas for doctoral reform to ensure career readiness, including three distinctive outcomes and four indispensable experiences.Originality/valueThis study advances a doctoral design framework which can render transparent the substance of programs and prompt program coordinators to develop and ensure career relevance.

청소년의 대학진학이유, 진로성숙 및 진로준비행동의 관계

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among the reasons for college admission, career maturity, and career preparation behavior in adolescents. The subjects of the study were 112 high school sophomores. The research tools used were scales for the variables. Data analysis involved frequency analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and path analysis. The results of the study are as follows: First, in the relationship between reasons for college admission and career maturity, social advancement and certainty showed a negative impact, while peer admission and certainty showed a positive impact. Second, in the relationship between reasons for college admission and career preparation behavior, the desired occupation positively influenced information gathering, while peer admission negatively influenced it. Third, in the relationship between career maturity and career preparation behavior, planning, certainty, and independence positively influenced information gathering. The implications of these findings are discussed.

JOB READINESS AND WORK PLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR LEARNERS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

This study sheds light on the obstacles that these students confront, aiming to bridge the informational void regarding their career development journey. Furthermore, it offers strategies and optimal approaches to facilitate a smooth transition for these students into the professional sphere. Youth with disabilities must be college and career-ready to be prepared for adult life. Parallel to the emergence of college and career readiness (CCR), transition planning and service requirements have promoted successful transitions to post school education, employment, and community living. 
 This study primarily aimed to find the difference in the level of functioning in the Pizza Making Program as part of the Job Readiness and Work Placement Program of high school learners with special educational needs in terms of their cognitive skills, functional skills, behavioral skills, and daily life skills. The majority of high school students with special educational needs in the pre-evaluation had a rarely observed and practiced level of functioning in terms of cognitive, functional, behavioral, and daily life skills. 
 There was a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test in the four skills: cognitive, functional, behavioral, and daily life skills. This indicates that utilizing the program and giving more constant exposure to it would help the learner with special educational needs reach the highest level of functioning, which is always observing and practicing the skills needed in order to have a successful transition to college and in obtaining and maintaining integrated and inclusive employment.

Digital Marketing and Public Speaking Training for Generation Z

Generation Z has extensive and natural access to the internet, mobile devices, social media, and other technological innovations from an early age. Friendly interactions with technology have shaped the way Generation Z communicates, learns, and connects. The importance of career readiness in facing the ever-growing digital era is very crucial. Rapid technological transformation has changed the work landscape significantly. Many new jobs are emerging, while others are experiencing fundamental changes in skill demands. The abilities that generation Z needs to have are the ability to communicate and collaborate as well as digital marketing skills. The method of implementing the activity uses various methods such as lectures, discussions, questions and answers, as well as providing digital marketing and public speaking training for students to prepare them for entering the world of work and entrepreneurship. The results of the activity are that the lecturers provide digital marketing and public speaking training for students to become entrepreneurs and the lecturers provide motivation so that students are able to face preparations for entering the world of work and can continue to university level.

The Impact of Perceived Parental Expectations on Career Adaptability: The Moderating Role of Parental Career Support

Background: Career adaptability is regarded as the core index to measure the adequacy of youth’s “career readiness”, which refers to the psychological resources of individuals to cope with current or expected career tasks, career changes or career difficulties. Methods: In this study, 529 students (246 male students, 46.5%, 283 female students, 53.5%) in the first grade of a senior high school in Beijing were assessed by the perceived Parental Expectation Scale, the Parental Career Support Scale and the Career Adaptability Scale. Results: (1) Parents’ expectations, parents’ career support and career adaptability were significantly positively correlated, and the scores were all higher than the average. (2) Parents’ expectations and parents’ careers are significantly positive predictors of career adaptability; (3) The variable of parental career support plays a moderating role in the path of perceived parental expectations on career adaptability. Conclusions: In the middle school stage, parents’ provision of career resources has a good promotion effect on students’ career preparation and coping with career difficulties.

Integrating Career Readiness Competencies into Vocational Curriculum for Enhanced Graduate Employability: A Case Study of Selected Trade Areas in Namibia

This study explored the integration of career readiness competencies into vocational curriculum in Namibia to improve graduates' employability in key trade areas such as welding, joinery, clothing, bricklaying, hospitality, and information technology sectors. The research uses a quantitative descriptive case study method to gather data from vocational students and literature reviews. The study aims to identify the most valued career readiness competencies and assess the extent to which vocational education institutions are addressing them. The findings have implications for vocational education policy and practice, enhancing graduates' employability and economic development. It also contributes to the discussion on soft skills and career readiness in vocational education.

Construction and validation of a medical career readiness inventory.

Medical students' preparedness for clinical practice is well researched, yet little is known on the extent to which students are being prepared for a medical career. This paper reports the construction of a short medical inventory titled eXploring medical sTudents' caReer reAdiness (XTRA) to measure students' career readiness based on Super's theory of career maturity. We designed an instrument consisting of a series of 5-point Likert-scale to identify participants competencies regarding career exploration and planning during their undergraduate studies. The instrument was completed by 348 medical students from 41 universities in the United Kingdom. We examined the validity and reliability of the instrument through Exploratory Factor Analysis, Cronbach's coefficient α and Pearson correlation. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed that 16 of the 20-items survey were aligned with the exploration stage of Super's theory: Crystallisation (Career goals), Specification (Career pathways) and Implementation (Career accomplishments). The four items that formed two separate statistical factors were specific to a current medical career in the UK. Internal reliability for Super's factor subscales were acceptable (α = 0.71 to α = 0.81). A significant positive relationship was found between students' overall rating of career readiness and the three factors, indicating construct validity. The XTRA Inventory is a short instrument with construct and content validity specifically designed to measure career readiness of medical students. Further work on its psychometric properties will help establish this inventory to be used as a guidance and career counselling tool by medical educators and educational institutions in developing career development programmes.

The K-16 education movement: common themes across K-12 and higher education systems to inform development and evaluation

The K-16 education movement broadly includes efforts to streamline educational pathways across K-12 and higher academic and other systems to enhance adult and career readiness and address inequitable opportunities and resources faced by many vulnerable students. The movement remains largely aspirational, however, with little consensus and few tenets available to guide K-16 program development and evaluation. This article presents a preliminary scoping review of several major student themes that crosscut K-12 and higher education systems and that could inform K-16 education initiatives. These themes include student progression and completion; student engagement; student mental health; and student demographic and generational characteristics. Each theme is explored with respect to commonalities across K-12 and higher education systems. Examples include risk/protective factors, ecological levels, barriers, sophisticated data analysis, intervention, school climate, belongingness, student-teacher interactions, academic warning signs, tiered/stepped care models, and demographic and generational changes. A key underlying thesis throughout the article is movement toward a dimensional perspective that considers student development, support needs, learning strategies, and other domains along an educational spectrum rather than as distinct K-12 and higher education categories.

School Counselors’ Role in Supporting College and Career Readiness: Does Disability Status Matter?

This study surveyed 225 school counselors to investigate the college and career readiness (CCR) supports they provide, with a focus on whether these supports vary based on students’ disability status. The results reveal that school counselors deliver CCR supports related to resource coordination, life-readiness instruction, and career assessment and planning services more frequently than supports for entering employment and college. Moreover, school counselors reported providing a greater number and frequency of CCR supports to students without disabilities compared to those with disabilities across all CCR domains and offered explanations for these differences. These results suggest a need for better preparation of school counselors to support the college and career readiness of students with disabilities.

Home visitor preparation in higher education

ABSTRACT Although home visiting is growing as a service for families with young children, the field does not adequately prepare the home visiting workforce, and higher education courses on home visiting are rare. Many home visitors are prepared through higher education as teachers, social workers, or nurses, which provides knowledge but few of the skills needed to collaborate with families to support their children’s development, revealing a need for focused pre-service preparation for home visiting. We conducted a qualitative study to (1) describe the present state of preparation in higher education and (2) propose recommendations for strengthening home visitor preparation via higher education. Focus groups (N = 43) were conducted at conferences that included some focus on early childhood home visiting. Individual interviews (N = 11) were conducted parallel to focus groups. Participants were faculty and administrators in higher education or home visiting related professionals. Using thematic analysis, three major themes surfaced: (1) learning, training, and awareness in higher education; (2) blending of a myriad of skills in home visiting; and (3) unification and support needs. Our findings emphasize the need for higher education to provide professional preparation for careers in home visiting. We offer recommendations to meet this need.

The HistoryMakers as Helper in Understanding Black Radio Resilience

ABSTRACT Grounded theory offers a way to examine the journeys of Black radio leaders. A group of 14 radio station leaders interviewed by The HistoryMakers and available in the HistoryMakers Digital Archive were selected for the following areas: educational background, career path, journey into the radio industry, management strategy, and insights on sustainability of the Black Radio medium. The 14 radio leaders did not reflect a consistent pattern of career preparation. Four initial building blocks—ownership, leadership, management and outlook led to a second tier of themes—that together form the “Tenets of Black Radio Resilience.”

Future-Proofing the BSE Science Curriculum: Stakeholder Perspectives on Integrating AI and Emerging Technologies at Pangasinan State University

The rapid advancement of technology, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging innovations, has reshaped the education landscape, necessitating the modernization of academic programs to meet future demands. This study assesses the readiness of the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) Science curriculum at Pangasinan State University for integrating AI and emerging technologies. Qualitative data were collected from students, faculty, the college dean, the program chairperson, and the director for curriculum to identify gaps and recommend curriculum enhancements. Key findings reveal significant curriculum limitations, including outdated content and insufficient focus on technology, hinder students’ preparedness for careers in a digital world. Participants emphasized the need for practical learning experiences, such as hands-on projects and real-world applications, to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practice. Faculty development in AI and digital tools was highlighted as critical for teaching effectiveness. Participants recommended incorporating AI, machine learning, and data science fundamentals to future-proof the curriculum and address institutional constraints like limited resources and infrastructure challenges. The study recommends a comprehensive curriculum overhaul that integrates advanced technologies enhances digital literacy and emphasizes professional development for faculty to align with global educational trends. These changes are essential to prepare future science educators for the dynamic demands of modern education and the evolving workforce.

A Scoping Review: Literature on Undergraduate Research and Career Readiness

Undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative inquiry (URSCI) experiences are found to enhance student growth in skill development. Previous research has not established what literature exists on intentionally preparing students for work through URSCI experiences in the United States. A scoping review was conducted to systematically map what the literature reveals that faculty, programs, and institutions are intentionally providing with URSCI experiences. Five databases and Google Scholar were searched. Data were charted by characteristics tied to the research question. The results demonstrated a need for research on URSCI to intentionally and directly assess how undergraduate research can be used as a tool for career readiness. The current reliance on the implicit aspects of the URSCI experience to develop career readiness competencies is not a sufficient approach.