Key Facts about the Decision-making Process of High School Students Regarding Career Options

Abstract

As a dynamic transformation of the economy, companies put pressure on universities and other educational suppliers to deliver the labor force with new knowledge and skills required, to ensure their innovation and competitiveness. Because of these dynamics, students are also under pressure when they must decide about future jobs. There is also confusion in the mind of young adult that needs to bear the influence of public media, social media, online communities about the personal development in regional, national, or global environment. In this case, universities and high schools have to inform about trends and perspectives of future career and support students in their choice but they lack of communication capabilities or marketing aspects are overestimated. Our study is based on an online survey with more than 500 participants from Mures county high schools during the 2018-2019 academic year. Most of the student wants to continue their study at university 83,2 %. As a preferential channel of information about university programs students voted as very useful, university websites and meetings with representatives of faculties. The main fields students interested in are: business, engineering, informatics, medicine, public administration and law. Around 13.4% of the high school students intend to continue their study abroad. Almost half of the respondents have clear idea of study program to be chosen. Regarding the influence factors of their choice, family and acquaintances who are already university students have the higher impact rather than colleagues, friends and professors. When referring to criteria for choosing the future university, they favor the number of tax-free places and international mobility. Generally, we can say that students consider university the most important next step in their future career and they proof themselves rather independent to decide about this step. Our study also emphasizes significant levels of indecision and we will deepen our further research for better understanding of the phenomenon.