CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Career choice, it is when you undergo series of tests or processes that

helps you define your career path. Individuals have interest in of affinity towards

certain career fields of occupations. It is possible to differentiate several factors of

career choice based upon the degree and limitations of societal constraints.

Graduating students from secondary schools may not have solid

decision on where to go in college and what degree program they may possibly

take. They are planning to enter college without clear idea of what career to pursue

for their future (Ramirez & Dizon, 2014). They may sometimes consider the people

and the information they received within their environment. There are several

factors that may affect the decision of students and parents, where it can be a good

source of insight for private higher education institutions to offer quality services

that will suit to the needs, expectations and demands of the community.

Academic institutions sought to observe the requirements of the

customers, prospective students and other clients like industry partners when

preparing an educational program (Hrnciar & Madzík, 2013). Degree programs and

other student services are being developed to promote the image of the university

(Nadelson, Semmelroth, Martinez, Featherstone, Fuhriman, & Sell, 2013).

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With the curricular offerings of private colleges and universities which

are almost identical programs makes diversification very difficult (Vaz & Mansori,

2013). Therefore, the competitive edge, uniqueness and quality must be

established in educational marketing through image building while helping and

guiding the parents towards the achievement of their desire for the success of their

children. According to Olenski (2015) educating-based marketing is the sharing of

knowledge with the purpose of building trust. It is a strategy that establishes

creadibility and trust with your customers by using educational messages.

The decision on good career choice and school sometimes depend

on how the way students perceive the world and their future. Some of them may

not have enough knowledge and consciousness about how they should process

information from personal, social, economical, political, spiritual and environmental

aspects of putting into context and realization of having a successful profession.

Pafili and Mylonakis (2011) emphasized that in coming up with the right decision

of what profession to take, students can properly utilize their skills and knowledge

to gain proper experience who could contribute to the development and welfare of

the society but Koni, Zainal, and Ibrahim (2012) noted that some studies show that

not all students who enter a university have the intention to obtain the degree.

The choice of career of the students is being influenced by some

factors from the social environment, mainly the parents as immediate family who

plays an active role in choosing the right education for their children (Pafili &

Mylonakis, 2011). As a sign of respect for the parents and culture of the Filipinos,

parents or the elderly are being consulted first by their children because primarily
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they will be the one to provide the financial support to enter in college (Laguador,

2013).

This present study explores the last phase of the Career Decision-

Making Process Model of Hirschi and Läge (2007) which is the after actual

decision-making which aims to determine, It is important for the institution to

identify the willingness of the students to pursue the program where interest can

be used as good indicator of career choice (Hirschi & Läge, 2008), so that if

problems might occur in their academic performance related to negative attitude,

the result of this study might be useful to explain the situation.

Estevan (2014) emphasized that in Brazil, although there is an

improvement in the quality of public school which may also increase enrollment;

there are some students who prefer private education now choose public schools.

In the Philippines, based on personal observation that most parents transferred

their children from private to public schools due to the global economic recession

which parents working abroad become unemployed or they are receiving lesser

amount of salary compared to their normal compensation. Some political

challenges that the country faced for the past and present administrations make

the parents financially affected. This study also explores the differences on how

these students from private and public schools really value their college degree to

become future seafarers to seek greener pastures from other countries.

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Theoretical Framework

S. Alvin Leung (2008) studies revealed that the main concern for

management students is the choices made by them at critical points concluding

their career paths. The financial out-come, interest in subject, ease of subject and

future opportunities are the factors that can be external or internal factor that can

directly or indirectly influence the choices students made. However, as this paper

is engendered with deep understanding of the above four factors which are

strengthened by the literature.

Career related decisions are complicated and have broad and long term

consequences that are not always obvious (Hiebert, 2009:13). The context in

which career decisions occur is complex and therefore many people require

assistance in exploring alternatives and weighing the consequences associated

with various options (Hiebert, 2009:13). Gordon (2000:49) cited that there were

190 000 vacant jobs in the United States but employers could not find employees

with the right qualifications to do them. He argued that people are being educated

for the wrong future. He further explained that few young people imagine

themselves working in services, crafts or technical industries even though

government predictions were that these sectors would be the leaders in creating

new jobs. This implies that students do not get well informed guidance in terms of

the job market.

Higher education is a formal education which leads individuals to their

respective professions. It must not be toyed with if the people involved are to

perform well and be productive in their professions (Adebowale, 2011:361). The

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aims of guidance counselling and of higher education are inseparable because

guidance counselling is an integral part of education (Ibrahim et al., 2014:301;

Adebowale, 2011:362).

Braxton (2000b) extended Tinto’s theory to add the integration effects of

external communities and student characteristics on academic persistence. He

posited that influences on college student persistence and departure decisions

were derived from four theoretical frameworks: economic, organization,

psychological, and sociological.

In Tinto’s terms, Braxton’s organizational framework can be viewed as

internal, while his economic, psychological, and sociological frameworks can be

viewed as external. According to Braxton, these four sources impact students’

social integration and thus their decision to persist or depart from an academic

program. Moxley et al. (2001) agreed with Braxton’s stance that influences on

social integration, and thus on persistence decisions, could be external to the

college institution. They specifically related external communities directly to career

decision, explaining that these associations could help students make career

decisions and to realize the value of their education.

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Conceptual Framework

This study aimed to determine factors affecting career choice and interests

of Universidad de Zamboanga Senior High School students. The schematic

diagram of the study is presented below.

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Universidad de Zamboanga
Factors Affecting Career
Senior High School
Choice and Interests
Students

Figure 1: Conceptual Paradigm of the Study

This study was focused on factors affecting career choice and interest of

Universidad de Zamboanga Senior High School Students. The conceptual

paradigm of the study it shows that factors affecting career choice is the

independent variable. Of Universidad de Zamboanga Senior High School students

is the independent variable.

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Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to determine factors affecting career choice of

Universidad De Zamboanga Senior High School students.

Specifically, this study sought to answer the following questions:

1.) What is the demographic profile of the students when they are grouped

according to:

1.1. Age;

1.2. Sex;

1.3. Ethnicity; and

1.4. Strand?

2.) To what extent is factors affecting career choice of Universidad de Zamboanga

Senior High School students?

3.) Is there any significant difference between factors affecting career choice when

they are grouped according to their profile?

Hypothesis

This study was guided by a null hypothesis tested at 0.05 level of

significance.

Ho. There is no significant difference between factors affecting career

choice of UZ-SHS Students when they are grouped according to their profile?
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Significance of the Study

The outcome of this study aims at determining Factors Affecting

Career Choice of Universidad De Zamboanga Senior High School students. As the

factors affecting career choice and interest of student possibly identify the possible

outcome of their career path.

School. This study aimed to provide teachers and students to learn how we

can make career choice.

Teachers. This study aimed to raise concern about teacher’s to guide their

student make their career choice.

Students. This study aimed to requires students to become responsible for

their own learning and choosing their career paths.

Future Researchers. This research seeks to explore how student can

make their career choice or career paths.

Scope and Delimitation

This study was delimited on the factors affecting career choice and interests

of Universidad de Zamboanga Senior High School students. The focus of the study

was only held in the school of Universidad de Zamboanga City Campus of some

maximum of 150 respondents. The study covered variety of assessment methods

to diagnose student’s strength and needs, plan and adjust instruction.

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Definition of Terms

The researchers defined the following terms for clarity as they are used in

the context of this research, namely.

Career. This refers to the identity of a person that makes the decision of their life

of being an individuality.

Career Choice. This refers to ones wants having career for the possible outcomes

of their success.

Factors. This refers to possible outcomes of the problem to pursue the possible

solution in order to ease the negative effects.

Academic Institutions. This refers to an entity, such as a university or college

that grants academic degree.

Curriculum. This refers to the lessons and academic content tought in a school or

a specific course or program.