The Influences of Career Interest and Career Information Seeking Behavior on Career Choices among University Students

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the career interest and career information-seeking behaviour among male and female students in higher education students. This study used survey research design involving respondents were 570 students from selected institutions of higher learning using the stratified random sampling. A questionnaire was constructed based on the programs and activities carried out in institutions of higher learning and career exploration instrument was used. The career exploration instrument to measure career interest such as Realistic (R), Investigative (I), Artistic (A), Social (S), Enterprising (E), and Conventional (C).The data analysis showed that the male and female students have non-different patterns of personality whichwere thecombination of Social (S), Conventional (C) and Enterprising (E). Meanwhile, the frequency data for students meeting a counsellor showed that female students met with counsellors more often met to discuss career development issues. The same data also showed that a lot of female students were involved in career programs in schools and universities. This study suggests that counsellors should take into account the different needs of male and female students in designing and implementing career programs/activities to help students make informed career decisions.