Factors Shaping Vocational High School Students' Career Choices

Year 2025, Volume: 13 Issue: 3, 1907 - 1942, 29.11.2025

Emrullah Deniz

https://doi.org/10.46778/goputeb.1656005

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the factors influencing the career choices of students attending vocational high schools and workplace-based vocational training programs. To this end, a questionnaire was developed and tested for validity and reliability. This study utilized a combination of correlational and descriptive survey models and was administered to a total of 460 students. Exploratory factor analysis showed that the questionnaire consisted of three subscales—social and financial benefits, physical conditions, and workplace climate—and a total of 15 items, explaining 46.14% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha coefficients for each subscale and the overall questionnaire were .79 for social and financial benefits, .71 for physical conditions, .68 for workplace climate, and .81 for the overall questionnaire. Correlation coefficients support the relationship between the questionnaire's sub-dimensions. Psychometric evaluation of the questionnaire demonstrates that it is a measurement tool that can help identify factors influencing vocational high school students' career choices. Student opinions on the social and financial benefits and workplace climate sub-dimensions differed in terms of both gender and grade level variables, while student opinions on the physical conditions sub-dimension differed only in terms of grade level variable. Descriptive findings indicate that job security has the highest mean score among 15 factors in students' career choices, followed by high prestige, earning capacity, benefits, advancement opportunities, and employer reputation. On the other hand, geographic location was found to be the lowest-ranking factor in career choice among students. Clarifying the factors that influence students' career decisions could be beneficial for employers, as well as education policymakers and educators. In this age of accelerated career transitions, enhancing understanding of the factors influencing students' career decisions can inform the labor market about career decision-making dynamics. Furthermore, understanding the factors influencing career choices among vocational high school students can help improve career awareness among students in the career decision-making process.

Keywords

Career , Career Choice , Vocational High School Students

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Mardin Artuklu University Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee (8/11/2023-11/7).

Meslek Lisesi Öğrencilerinin Kariyer Seçimlerini Şekillendiren Faktörler

Abstract

Bu çalışma, mesleki ve teknik Anadolu lisesi ile iş yeri tabanlı mesleki eğitim programlarına devam eden öğrencilerin kariyer seçimlerini etkileyen faktörleri incelemeyi amaçlamıştır. Bu doğrultuda, geçerliği ve güvenirliği test edilmiş bir anket geliştirilmiştir. İlişkisel ve betimsel tarama modellerinin birlikte kullanıldığı bu araştırma kapsamında geliştirilen anket, toplamda 460 öğrenciye uygulanmıştır. Açımlayıcı faktör analizi (AFA), anketin, sosyal ve finansal faydalar, fiziksel koşullar ve iş yeri iklimi olmak üzere üç alt boyut ve varyansın %46.14’ünü açıklayan toplam 15 maddeden oluştuğunu göstermiştir. Güvenirlik analizi kapsamında her bir alt boyut ve anket geneli için elde edilen Cronbach alfa katsayısı, sosyal ve finansal faydalar için .79, fiziksel koşullar için .71, iş yeri iklimi için .68 ve anketin geneli için .81’dir. Korelasyon katsayıları, anketin alt boyutlarının ilişkili olduğunu desteklemektedir. Ankete ilişkin psikometrik değerlendirme, anketin, meslek lisesi öğrencilerinin kariyer seçimlerini etkileyen faktörlerin belirlenmesine yardımcı olabilecek bir ölçme aracı olduğunu göstermektedir. Sosyal ve finansal faydalar ve iş yeri iklimi alt boyutlarına ilişkin öğrenci görüşleri hem cinsiyet hem de sınıf seviyesi değişkeni açısından, fiziksel koşullar alt boyutuna ilişkin öğrenci görüşleri ise, sadece sınıf seviyesi değişkeni açısından farklılık göstermiştir. Betimsel bulgular, öğrencilerin kariyer seçiminde 15 faktör arasında iş güvenliğinin en yüksek ortalamaya sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Bunu sırasıyla yüksek prestij, kazanç miktarı, sosyal haklar, ilerleme fırsatı ve işverenin itibarı takip etmektedir. Diğer taraftan, öğrenciler arasında coğrafi konumun kariyer seçiminde en düşük ortalamaya sahip faktör olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Öğrencilerin kariyer kararlarını etkileyen faktörleri belirginleştirmek, eğitim politikalarını geliştirenler ve eğitmenlerin yanında, işverenler için de faydalı olabilir. Öyle ki, kariyer geçişlerinin hız kazandığı çağımızda öğrencilerin kariyer kararlarını etkileyen faktörlere ilişkin kavrayışı zenginleştirmek, işgücü piyasasına kariyer kararlarının dinamikleri hakkında bilgi verebilir. Ayrıca, meslek lisesinde öğrenim gören öğrencilerin kariyer seçimlerini etkileyen faktörleri anlamak, kariyer seçim aşamasında bulunan öğrencilerin kariyer farkındalığını geliştirmede yardımcı olabilir.

Keywords

Kariyer , Kariyer Seçimi , Meslek Lisesi Öğrencileri

Ethical Statement

Bu Çalışma Mardin Artuklu Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma ve Yayın Etiği Kurulu tarafından onaylanmıştır (8/11/2023-11/7).

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