Social Influence and Occupational Knowledge as Determinants of Career Choice Intentions among Undergraduate Students in Tanzania

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which occupational knowledge and social influence from significant others predict intentions of undergraduate students to join their careers upon completion of their studies in Tanzania. Based on its quantitative character, a cross-sectional survey design was opted. A convenient sample of 100 first and finalist undergraduate students (63 males, 37 females; age range 19 to 40 years) participated in this study. The structured questionnaire was used to assess the demographic characteristics, level of occupational knowledge, social influence, and career choice intentions. The study found that undergraduate students' intentions to join their careers were highly determined by their level of occupational knowledge and social influence from significant individuals such as parents, friends, and lecturers. It was further revealed that there was low but positive correlation between occupational knowledge and career choice intentions. Overall, the study found that majority of students intend to join their careers upon their graduation. Both practical and theoretical implications are discussed further in this study. Introduction The question of how career choice is made has been frequently asked in the mind of researchers from time immemorial. Psychologists and other scholars have long been interested and engaged in research as to how people choose their careers and how they can be helped to do so effectively. In fact, a wide range of factors which determine individual's career choice have been researched worldwide. However, whether or not career choice motives predict intentions of university students to join what they have chosen to study upon their graduation is still question which needs an empirical investigation. This paper examined the extent to which social influence and knowledge about occupations predict university students' career choice intentions. Background Career development, for most people, is a lifelong process of engaging the world of work through choosing among available employment opportunities (Bandura et al., 2001). Each individual undertaking this complex process is influenced by many factors. Perhaps these factors may vary in context and culture. Globally, researchers have investigated factors influencing students' career choice in various fields of specialization. To mention a few, there is literature on the views of students on teaching career (See, 2004; Kyriacou & Coulthard,