Factors Influencing Students’ Career Choices: Empirical Evidence from Business Students

Abstract

An incorrect career choice directs all individual efforts and resources into a wrong direction, when not aligned with the expectations; would not only be frustrating rather draining of the individual energy and wastage of resources. The motivation behind this research study was to investigate the factors that influence the career selection choice of the student and create a possible alignment between their preferences and the institutions curriculum and offerings. The structured questionnaire was distributed among MBA/BBA students enrolled in different universities of Karachi. Data were collected from 120 participants and analyzed using SPSS. Correlation and multiple -regression were applied as statistical tools to test the hypotheses. The results of the study revealed that “interest in the subject” is the most dominant factor influencing career choices of business students f (1,118)= 12.304, p<0.05, R=.307. Financial outcomes, ease of subject and future job opportunities were observed to have minor impact. The interest in the subject is also related and has some linkage with personality type. Mismatch of the personality and lack of interest in the subject is dangerous, and could end up into disastrous results in terms of student dissatisfaction, demotivation, lack of productivity leading to increased dropouts and career failure. The study results are indicative of the importance of students counseling sessions and other interventions to provide them with updated knowledge, and information to create their interest in the right choices and available options. The career choice of the students is also influenced