Career values and proactive career behaviour among contemporary higher education students

Abstract

The paper draws on evidence from a survey of Australian and UK students (N=433) on students' career values and their relationship to their proactivity in career self-management. Much of the dominant approaches to careers have focused on career competencies and adaptability in the context of increased movement from traditional to more self-managed career trajectories.Limited attention has been given to the role of career values in shaping individuals' approaches to career management, particularly among higher education students. This study reveals data on a range of career values among students on a continuum between intrinsic and extrinsic careers. It revealed a preponderance of intrinsic career values and a clear relationship emerged on the strength of career values and levels of proactivity towards career management. Further, higher levels of intrinsic and extrinsic career values were reported for certain student groups.The article discusses the implications of these data for enhancing students' career planning and engagement.

Rethinking employability: how students build on interest in a subject to plan a career

“…This linkage was illustrated in the case examples. The finding that most students wanted to pursue their interest during their career is consistent with other recent studies emphasising the importance of intrinsic career values to contemporary students (Jackson & Tomlinson, 2019;Jackson & Bridgstock, 2018;Gallup, 2019;AGCAS, 2017;Shury et al 2017).…”

“…Students' proactive exploration also seems to be a key mediating variable that was not studied quantitatively here and should be included in future models, consistent with Sansone, Geering, Thoman, and Smith's model (Sansone et al 2019) and research on career proactivity (e.g. Jackson & Tomlinson, 2019). Two of the student narratives (Sam and Lisa) also suggested how students blend and combine their interests to create particular 'lines of practice' (Azevedo, 2011).…”

“…Other studies of career decision-making have suggested that students' proactivity lies at the root of finding meaningful, professional level work (Gallup, 2019;Shury et al 2017;Jackson & Tomlinson, 2019). Our study traces proactivity back to students' interest in their subject.…”

“…Recent research suggests that students' career choices may be based more on 'interest, the learning possibilities and the feeling that the career is in accordance to the self' (Sortheix et al, 2013, 468), rather than on instrumental, extrinsic aims such as salary, rewards, and status (AGCAS, 2017;Gallup, 2019;Jackson & Bridgstock 2018;Jackson & Tomlinson, 2019;Sortheix et al, 2013).…”

Examining the professional career values and career awareness of athlete- students: the sample of the faculty of sports sciences

“…When the literature is reviewed, it can be seen that there are very few studies conducted by using the concepts of professional career value and career awareness together in university students who are athletes. It can be seen that studies on career value are mostly studies in which career values of participants are examined according to their personality traits or in which university students' career values are examined [11,12,13]. It can be seen that studies conducted on professional career awareness are mostly studies in which career awareness levels of participants studying in different educational levels and different areas have been measured [14,15,16].…”