It is a casual discussion between me and my friend now and then (especially if there is an upcoming difficult test to crack), looking back on our career decision, and what we would have done if we had been supported to pursue our passion. Or would we have taken up our passion even if we had been given the opportunity? Is there an embedded thought rooted deep in society, wherein a career is not just what you choose to work on but also how you choose to be looked at? Should a career be evaluated by its financial returns, social status, or happiness? Let us see if understanding factors that affect career choices help us arrive at a conclusion.
Primarily, the factor that appears to affect career choice the most is family influence. According to a study, an individual’s family did have a commensurable impact on one’s career choice, with parents expressing their concerns and setting restrictions.While some parents became supportive once a decision was made, others remained unsupportive." Also, it is interesting how parents have an indirect impact on the choice, as studies suggest that a child’s urge to prove themself to their parents motivates them to choose a particular career. However, some students decide not by their parents’ wishes but rather by being inspired to make the choice by looking up to their parents’ careers.
From a gendered perspective, gender initially poses a barrier for girls in choosing certain careers (e.g. media), due to concerns about safety and reputation with professions like teaching being suggested instead. But that wasn’t effective in preventing them from making their career choice. Economic factors, such as financial position and affordability, did not seem to affect the sample in the study, since there were rare cases of financial struggles that prevented them from making a career choice, and only a few were unable to afford a private university if they missed their shot at a public university. Delving into peer influence, surprisingly even postgraduate students felt comfortable choosing the same career as their friend which might be attributed to reasons like conformity and ease of learning, predominantly existent in female students.
Career choice often reflects a student’s passion and field of interest, with most successfully pursuing their desired paths. However, a few were unable to secure or afford their preferred careers. Other studies contrast, where students possessed certain interests or hobbies but lacked parental support. With respect to teachers and supervisory influence, teachers influence a student's career choice significantly (both positively and negatively). For some, teachers serve as their source of inspiration while others are grateful for the motivation.Unsurprisingly enough, students with lower grades feel inadequate in choosing their desired career. Also, the aid and guidance from supervisory personnel tend to have a generally positive effect, though not highly significant, on career development.
Additional factors like past experiences in life, such as a student’s incapability to help a person in the past, may play a role in their choice of career with the hope of making a difference in society. Factors like social media and the entertainment industry's portrayal of a profession contribute, to some extent, to the overall decision of one’s career.
In conclusion, parents and family significantly influence a child's choice of career.The influence of the human desire to fit in extends to career choices, whether it's the pressure to follow in the footsteps of a family with a tradition of professional careers or to align with the choices of one's peer group. This can make unconventional career decisions challenging for individuals. Teachers and mentors play a pivotal role in shaping career choices across different cultures and age groups. Surprisingly, financial circumstances do not seem to be a significant barrier to pursuing certain career paths, possibly due to individuals opting for educational loans to advance in their careers.
Most studies need to emphasize how a student deviates from their passion when it comes to career choice. Can this be that other factors have been embedded deeply in them that offset the thought of pursuing passion so much that students abandon their passion when it comes to their career choice? All of this could not be arrived at through these studies, which requires a more in-depth inquiry. Whatever is said it is high time people are given the environment to pursue what they want to. Isn't it simple how each one could work on what they love to work on, thereby making everything done at its best, everyone feeling at their best, wouldn't that lead to an equilibrium?
Gayathri M
