Abstract

Selecting academic fields at university level reflects career interests, which must be aligned with vocational personalities to avoid job dissatisfaction in the future. Since no earlier studies were conducted in Pakistan to investigate the compatibility between vocational personalities and career interests of university students, the current study aims to address this knowledge gap for the first time in the country. The study also highlights the role of aptitude testing before being enrolled in a university. As a quantitative survey, the study administered the O*Net Interest Profiler on 1503 conveniently selected graduating male and female students at different universities in Pakistan, with the analysis of vocational personalities based on Holland's RIASEC codes. The results show that students of pure sciences, social sciences, architecture, fine arts, and psychology choose academic disciplines in alignment with their vocational personalities. Students of computer sciences, management sciences, electrical engineering, accounting & finance, and mathematics, however, do not select their academic fields in alignment with their vocational personalities. The studied male students were significantly more realistic, enterprising and conventional, whereas the female students were significantly more investigative, artistic and social. The study suggests that stakeholders should provide aptitude testing and career counseling at school and college levels to obtain the best human resources for the country.

Keywords: career interests, vocational personality, academic disciplines, aptitude, career counseling, Pakistan

References

• Akkermans, J., Paradnike, K, Van der Heijden, B., & De Vos, A. (2018). The best of both worlds: The role of career adaptability and career competencies in students' well-being and performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01678
• Akkermans, J., Brenninkmeijer, V., Huibers, M., & Blonk, R. (2013). Competencies for the contemporary career: Development and preliminary validation of the career competencies questionnaire. Journal of Career Development, 40(3), 245-267. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845312467501
• Akkermans, J., Brenninkmeijer, V., Schaufeli, W., & Blonk, R. (2015). It's all about career skills: Effectiveness of a career development intervention for young employees. Human Resource Management, 54(4), 533-551. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21633
• Akkermans, J., & Tims, M. (2017). Crafting your career: How career competencies relate to career success via job crafting. Applied Psychology, 66(1), 168-195. https://doi.org/10.1111/apps.12082
• Appleby, D. C. (2018). Preparing psychology majors to enter the workforce: Then, now, with whom, and how. Teaching of Psychology, 45(1), 14-23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628317744944
• Armstrong, P. I., Hubert, L., & Rounds, J. (2003). Circular unidimensional scaling: A new look at group differences in interest structure. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 50(3), 297-308. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.50.3.297
• Arthur, M. B., Khapova, S. N., & Wilderom, C. P. M. (2005). Career success in a boundaryless career world. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26(2), 177-202. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.290
• Atchley, P., Hooker, E., Kroska, E., & Gilmour, A. (2012). Validation of an online orientation seminar to improve career and major preparedness. Teaching of Psychology, 39(2), 146-151. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628312437719
• Bandura, A., Barbaranelli, C., Caprara, G. V., & Pastorelli, C. (2001). Self-efficacy beliefs as shapers of children's aspirations and career trajectories. Child Development, 72(1), 187-206. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00273
• Beard, T. R., Ford, G. S., Saba, R. P., & Seals, R. A. (2012). Internet use and job search. Telecommunications Policy, 36(4), 260-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2011.12.001
• Betz, N. E., & Klein, K. L. (1996). Relationships among measures of career self-efficacy, generalized self-efficacy, and global self-esteem. Journal of Career Assessment, 4(3), 285-298. https://doi.org/10.1177/106907279600400304
• Bland, A. M., & Roberts-Pittman, B. J. (2014). Existential and chaos theory: "Calling" for adaptability and responsibility in career decision making. Journal of Career Development, 41, 382-401. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845313498303
• Bridgstock, R. (2009). The graduate attributes we've overlooked: Enhancing graduate employability through career management skills. Higher Education Research and Development, 28(1), 31-44. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360802444347
• Briscoe, J. P., Hall, D. T., & Frautschy DeMuth, R. L. (2006). Protean and boundaryless careers: An empirical exploration. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 69(1), 30-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2005.09.003
• Bryson, C. (2004). The consequences for women in the academic profession of the widespread use of fixed term contracts. Gender, Work and Organization, 11(2), 187-206. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0432.2004.00228.x
• Bubany, S. T., & Hansen, J.-I. C. (2011). Birth cohort change in the vocational interests of female and male college students. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 78(1), 59-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.08.002
• Chen, Y. L., & Fouad, N. A. (2013). Asian American educational goals: Racial barriers and cultural factors. Journal of Career Assessment, 21(1), 73-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072712454700
• Choo, L. S., Norsiah, M., & Tan, L. I. (2012). What drives the career choice among engineers? A case in Malaysian manufacturing plant. International Journal of Research Studies in Management, 1(2), 15-24. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrsm.2012.v1i2.60
• Ciarocco, N. J. (2018). Traditional and new approaches to career preparation through coursework. Teaching of Psychology, 45(1), 32-40. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628317744963
• Colakoglu, S. N. (2011). The impact of career boundarylessness on subjective career success: The role of career competencies, career autonomy, and career insecurity. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 79(1), 47-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.09.011
• Costa, P. T., McCrae, R. R., & Holland, J. L. (1984). Personality and vocational interests in an adult sample. Journal of Applied Psychology, 69(3), 390-400. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.69.3.390
• Darcy, M. U. A., & Tracey, T. J. G. (2007). Circumplex structure of Holland's RIASEC Interests across gender and time. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54(1), 17-31. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.54.1.17
• Duffy, R. D., & Dik, B. J. (2009). Beyond the self: external influences in the career development process. The Career Development Quarterly, 58(1), 29-43. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2009.tb00171.x
• Dustmann, C. (2004). Parental background, secondary school track choice, and wages. Oxford Economic Papers, 56(2), 209-230. https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpf048
• Eby, L. T., Butts, M., & Lockwood, A. (2003). Predictors of success in the era of the boundaryless career. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 24(6), 689-708. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.214
• Eisele, J. C. (1980). Defining education: A problem for educational history. Educational Theory, 30(1), 25-33. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-5446.1980.tb00904.x
• Eley, R. M., Hindmarsh, N., & Buikstra, E. (2007). Informing rural and remote students about careers in health: the effect of health careers workshops on course selection. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 15(1), 59-64. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1584.2007.00851.x
• Faize, F. A. (2015). Introducing argumentation at higher education in Pakistan. A new paradigm of teaching ethic based topics. FWU Journal of Social Sciences, 9(1), 8-13.
• Faize, F. A., & Husain, W. (2021). Students with severe anxiety during COVID-19 lockdown - exploring the impact and its management. Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 16(2), 153-163. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMHTEP-09-2020-0062
• Faize, F. A., Hussain, W., & Akhtar, M. (2018). Exploring students' competency in personal information management: Problems and prospects. Pakistan Journal of Information Management & Libraries, 20, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.47657/2018201048
• Forrier, A., & Sels, L. (2003). The concept employability: a complex mosaic. International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 3(2), 102-124. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJHRDM.2003.002414
• Fouad, N. A., Kim, S., Ghosh, A., Chang, W., & Figueiredo, C. (2016). Family influence on career decision making: Validation in India and the United States. Journal of Career Assessment, 24(1), 197-212. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072714565782
• Garcia, P. R. J. M., Restubog, S. L. D., Bordia, P., Bordia, S., & Roxas, R. E. O. (2015). Career optimism: THE roles of contextual support and career decision-making self-efficacy. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 88, 10-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2015.02.004
• Gianakos, I., & Subich, L. M. (1988). Student sex and sex role in relation to college major choice. The Career Development Quarterly, 36(3), 259-268. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.1988.tb00494.x
• Gibson, D. E. (2004). Role models in career development: New directions for theory and research. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 65(1), 134-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-8791(03)00051-4
• Gil-Flores, J., Padilla-Carmona, M. T., & Suárez-Ortega, M. (2011). Influence of gender, educational attainment and family environment on the educational aspirations of secondary school students. Educational Review, 63(3), 345-363. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2011.571763
• Golding, J. M., Lippert, A. M., & Malik, S. E. (2018). Using the internet to facilitate career choices in psychology-related fields. Teaching of Psychology, 45(1), 60-66. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628317745450
• Gottfredson, L. S. (1981). Circumscription and compromise: A developmental theory of occupational aspirations. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 28(6), 545-579. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.28.6.545
• Hairston, J. E. (2000). How parents influence African American students' decisions to prepare for vocational teaching careers. Journal of Career and Technical Education, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.21061/jcte.v16i2.547
• Hall, D. T. (2004). The protean career: A quarter-century journey. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 65(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2003.10.006
• Hanna, A., & Rounds, J. (2020). How accurate are interest inventories? A quantitative review of career choice hit rates. Psychological Bulletin, 146(9), 765-796. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000269
• Hashim, H. M., & Embong, A. M. (2015). Parental and peer influences upon accounting as a subject and accountancy as a career. Journal of Economics, Business and Management, 3(2), 252-256. https://doi.org/10.7763/joebm.2015.v3.189
• Helwig, A. A. (2008). From childhood to adulthood: A 15-year longitudinal career development study. The Career Development Quarterly, 57(1), 38-50. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2008.tb00164.x
• Henry, P., & Bardo, H. R. (1987). Expressed occupational choice of nontraditional premedical students as measured by the self-directed search: An investigation of Holland's theory. Psychological Reports, 60(2), 575-581. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1987.60.2.575
• Heslin, P. A. (2005). Conceptualizing and evaluating career success. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26(2), 113-136. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.270
• Hirschi, A. (2010). The role of chance events in the school-to-work transition: The influence of demographic, personality and career development variables. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 77(1), 39-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.02.002
• Holland, J. L. (1997). Making vocational choices: A theory of vocational personalities and work environments (3rd ed.). Psychological Assessment Resources.
• Howard, K. A., Flanagan, S., Castine, E., & Walsh, M. E. (2015). Perceived influences on the career choices of children and youth: an exploratory study. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 15(2), 99-111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-015-9298-2
• Husain, W. (2018). Prevalent tendencies for mental disorders in Pakistan. Clinical and Health, 29(1), 34-38. https://doi.org/10.5093/clysa2018a6
• Husain, W. (2020). Barriers in seeking psychological help: Public perception in Pakistan. Community Mental Health Journal, 56(1), 75-78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00464-y
• Husain, W. (2021a). Components of psychosocial health health. Health Education, 122(4), 387-401. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-05-2021-0084
• Husain, W. (2021b). Women are the better halves: Gender-based variations in virtues and character strengths. Journal of Human Values, 28(2), 102-114. https://doi.org/10.1177/09716858211039984
• Husain, W., & Faize, F. A. (2020). Public awareness of psychological problems in Pakistan. Mental Health Review Journal, 25(1), 35-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-09-2019-0033
• Husain, W., & Faize, F. A. (2021). The state of education in Pakistan: Assessment through Bloom's Taxonomy. Contemporary Education and Teaching Research, 3(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewCETR2022030101
• Husain, W., Faize, F. A., Urooj, J., & Tariq, R. (2023). Beyond the grades: measuring teacher's efficacy for the psychosocial grooming of students. Open Praxes, 15(1), 60-72. https://doi.org/10.55982/openpraxis.15.1.540
• Husain, W., Gulzar, A., Aqeel, M., & Rana, A.-u.-R. (2016). The mediating role of depression, anxiety and stress between job strain and turnover intentions among male and female teachers. FWU Journal of Social Sciences, 10(1), 48-57.
• Inglehart, R., Norris, P., & Ronald, I. (2003). Rising tide: Gender equality and cultural change around the world. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511550362
• Khan, S. B. (2010). Need assessment on the provision of guidance services at high school level in Pakistan. International Journal of Academic Research, 2(6), 483-486.
• Kochhar, S. (1984). Guidance and counselling in colleges and universities. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
• Kuijpers, M. A. C. T., Schyns, B., & Scheerens, J. (2006). Career competencies for career success. The Career Development Quarterly, 55(2), 168-178. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2006.tb00011.x
• Kumar, S. (2016). Career Choice And College Students: Parental Influence on Career Choice Traditionalism among College Students in Selected Cities in Ethiopia. International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies, 3(3), 23-30. https://doi.org/10.17220/ijpes.2016.03.003
• Lawson, T. J. (2018). Tapping into alumni as a source of authentic information and advice on careers in psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 45(1), 67-74. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628317745452
• Lee, I. H., & Rojewski, J. W. (2009). Development of occupational aspiration prestige: A piecewise latent growth model of selected influences. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 75(1), 82-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2009.03.006
• Lewis, P., & Rivkin, D. (1999). Development of the O*NET interest profiler. National Center for O*NET Development, 1-29. https://www.onetcenter.org/dl_files/IP.pdf
• Mokoro, J. M., Wambiya, P., & Aloka, P. J. O. (2014). Parental influence on secondary school students' attitudes towards chemistry. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(20), 1457-1466. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p1457
• Moran, S. (2018). Purpose-in-action education: Introduction and implications. Journal of Moral Education, 47(2), 145-158. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2018.1444001
• Morris, M. L. (2016). Vocational interests in the United States: Sex, age, ethnicity, and year effects. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(5), 604-615. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000164
• Murray, J. L., & Hall, P. M. (2001). Gender differences in undergraduate holland personality types: Vocational and cocurricular implications. NASPA Journal, 39(1). https://doi.org/10.2202/0027-6014.1157
• Novakovic, A., & Fouad, N. A. (2013). Background, personal, and environmental influences on the career planning of adolescent girls. Journal of Career Development, 40(3), 223-244. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845312449380
• Parker, P., Khapova, S. N., & Arthur, M. B. (2009). The intelligent career framework as a basis for interdisciplinary inquiry. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 75(3), 291-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2009.04.001
• Raque-Bogdan, T. L., Klingaman, E. A., Martin, H. M., & Lucas, M. S. (2013). Career-related parent support and career barriers: An investigation of contextual variables. The Career Development Quarterly, 61(4), 339-353. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2013.00060.x
• Renn, R. W., Steinbauer, R., Taylor, R., & Detwiler, D. (2014). School-to-work transition: Mentor career support and student career planning, job search intentions, and self-defeating job search behavior. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 85(3), 422-432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2014.09.004
• Robinson, G. F. W. B., Schwartz, L. S., Dimeglio, L. A., Ahluwalia, J. S., & Gabrilove, J. L. (2016). Understanding career success and its contributing factors for clinical and translational investigators. Academic Medicine, 91(4), 570-582. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000000979
• Russell, J. E. (2001). Vocational psychology: An analysis and directions for the future. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 59(2), 226-234. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.2001.1828
• Salami, S. O. (2008). Gender, identity status and career maturity of adolescents in Southwest Nigeria. Journal of Social Sciences, 16(1), 35-49.
• Schwartz, B. M., Gregg, V. R., & McKee, M. (2018). Conversations about careers: Engaging students in and out of the classroom. Teaching of Psychology, 45(1), 50-59. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628317745247
• Smart, J. C. (1989). Life history influences on Holland vocational type development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 34(1), 69-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-8791(89)90065-1
• Su, R., Rounds, J., & Armstrong, P. I. (2009). Men and things, women and people: A meta-analysis of sex differences in interests. Psychological Bulletin, 135(6), 859-884. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017364
• Sullivan, S., & Baruch, Y. (2009). Advances in career theory and research: A critical review and agenda for future exploration. Journal of Management, 35(6), 1542-1571. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206309350082
• Super, D. E. (1980). A life-span, life-space approach to career development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 16(3), 282-298. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-8791(80)90056-1
• Super, D. E. (1969). Vocational development theory: Persons, positions, and processes. The Counseling Psychologist, 1(1), 2-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/001100006900100101
• Taveira, M. D. C., Silva, M. C., Rodrguez, M. L., & Maia, J. (1998). Individual characteristics and career exploration in adolescence. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 26(1), 89-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069889808253841
• Van Der Heijde, C. M., & Van Der Heijden, B. I. J. M. (2006). A competence-based and multidimensional operationalization and measurement of employability. Human Resource Management, 45(3), 449-476. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.20119
• Van Dinther, M., Dochy, F., & Segers, M. (2011). Factors affecting students' self-efficacy in higher education. Educational Research Review, 6(2), 95-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2010.10.003
• Varca, P. E., & Shaffer, G. S. (1982). Holland's theory: Stability of avocational interests. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 21(3), 288-298. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-8791(82)90037-9
• Walsh, W. B., Bingham, R. P., & Sheffey, M. A. (1986). Holland's theory and college educated working black men and women. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 29(2), 194-200. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-8791(86)90003-5
• Walsh, W. B., & Huston, R. E. (1988). Traditional female occupations and Holland's theory for employed men and women. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 32(3), 358-365. https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-8791(88)90026-7
• Walsh, W. B., Savickas, M. L., & Hartung, P. (Eds.). (2005). Handbook of vocational psychology (3rd ed.). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781410613042
• Warner Colleen, C., & Warner, S. C. (2005). The effect of egalitarian and complementarian gender role attitudes on career aspirations in evangelical female undergraduate college students. Journal of Psychology & Theology, 33(3), 224-229. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164710503300307
• Watt, H. M., Shapka, J. D., Morris, Z. A., Durik, A. M., Keating, D. P., & Eccles, J. S. (2012). Gendered motivational processes affecting high school mathematics participation, educational aspirations, and career plans: A comparison of samples from Australia, Canada, and the United States. Developmental Psychology, 48(6), 1594-1611. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027838
• Whiston, S. C., Brecheisen, B. K., & Stephens, J. (2003). Does treatment modality affect career counseling effectiveness? Journal of Vocational Behavior, 62(3), 390-410. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-8791(02)00050-7
• Whiston, S. C., & Quinby, R. F. (2009). Review of school counseling outcome research. Psychology in the Schools, 46(3), 267-272. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.20372
• Witko, K., Bernes, K. B., Magnusson, K., & Bardick, A. D. (2005). Senior high school career planning: What students want. Journal of Educational Enquiry, 6(1), 34-49. https://ojs.unisa.edu.au/index.php/EDEQ/article/view/500/369
• Wittekind, A., Raeder, S., & Grote, G. (2010). A longitudinal study of determinants of perceived employability. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 31(4), 566-586. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.646
• Yaqoob, U., Arif, F., Samad, M., & Iqbal, A. (2017). Career counselling and its knowledge among high school students in Pakistan. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 4(7), 2261-2268. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20172817
• Zahid, G., Hooley, T., & Neary, S. (2020). Careers work in higher education in Pakistan: current practice and options for the future. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 48(4), 443-453. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2019.1576030