Abstract:

Choosing the right career path; one which provides a sense of meaning, success and happiness as well as one that can fulfil future desired lifestyle and uphold one’s values can be a daunting task for secondary school students as they prepare to move on to the next chapter of their lives such as attending university. In the OECD “Education at a Glance” report (2012), university entry rates for first time graduates undertaking a Bachelor’s degree was 68% (70% including international students) for the U.S.A and 65% (94% including international students) for Australia, while surprisingly the completion rates were 35% in the U.S.A (38% with international students) and 34% (50% with international students) in Australia. University fees are increasing and monetary restrictions are being placed on the number of degrees acquired by each student. For these reasons it is becoming more imperative that potential tertiary students select the most suitable career from the onset. It is important that students consider a range of factors in their decision making process to select the most suitable pathway for them. This paper explores the psychological/educational literature on how students are making early career choices such as through channels contained within the Systems Theory Framework described by Patton and McMahon (2006). This paper will outline necessary future research to be conducted and reflect on career counseling interventions aimed at increasing the exploration of factors considered in the decision making process. These topics are considered in light of increasing career and job-fit and ultimately success and happiness.

Keywords:

Career coaching, psychology, holistic.