Determinants Influencing Career Choices of Senior High School Students of Cebu City Division

Abstract

The study explored the determinants influencing career choices of senior high school students of Cebu City Division. In the interest of informed choice, the investigation sought to establish career guidance model that would facilitate career decisions among senior high schools. A mixed-method design that involved survey and interview was used in this study. Questionnaire and interview were used to collect data. Four hundred and thirteen respondents (413) participated in this research. The SPSS v. 20 was used to analyze the data using simple percentage, mean, standard deviation and chi-square test. The study reveals that school influence, peer influence and family influence are interpreted as moderately while gender influence is reported to be moderately low. The chi-square tests revealed that mother’s education may marginally determine family and peer influence. Also, age may be perceived to be a significant determinant of gender influence. The test also demonstrated that the differences in school may mean differences in family, school, gender, and peer influences. These results were validated by challenges encountered by the parents, teachers, and school heads. These were the personality factors, maturation, time management, future planning, financial constraints, capability training for career guidance, and enhanced educational instruction. Finally, the study concluded that career decision-making is a complex phenomenon that requires support from teachers, school heads, and parents as well as understanding of the different dynamics of social influences. It is recommended that a proposed career guidance model as the output of the study must be implemented to help educators and parents address the concerns about the determinants influencing the career choices of the students in Cebu City Division.