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INTRODUCTION

Choosing a career path is probably one of the hardest decision that a

student will make. In doing so, you need to take in to a lot consideration the

elderly advice, your goals, priorities, personal interests, peer factor, financial

assistance and intellectual capacity in order to choose the best course or career

that suits your personality.

One of the most common question asked by high school students that are

about to enter college is, what college course can they afford that will serve as

their guide to quickly push them out of poverty. Given the fact that Philippines is

an economically challenged country, majority of Filipino students will obviously

consider to take a course in college that will guarantee them a high paying job

after they graduate, be it locally or in abroad. Practical thinking, they say, but a

lot of college people takes up courses they cannot handle with belief that it will

earn them a job with high salary. This sometimes results to being forced to shift

or worse, being dropped out of college which only adds to the number of

unemployed people.

Misfit graduates are one of the highest contributing factors why Philippines

has high unemployment and underemployment rate (Pascual 2013). According to

the Philippine Statistics Authority survey, 6.6% of Filipinos are unemployed as of

January 2017, this is much higher than the 5.7% unemployment rate in January

2016. There are many factors that affects the unemployment and
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underemployment rate in our country, such as lack of job opportunities for both

domestic and international, not enough educational attainment, age and gender

racism. Along with these aforementioned factors is the misfit of courses and

incapability of the graduates to meet or sustain the demand of the present

economy and industries. This could be due to the wrong choice of course taken

by most of the college students brought about by unguided decision making in

choosing courses.

In March 2014, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) released a

list of the most in demand courses from year 2014 until year 2018. According to

the list revealed, courses that are involved with agriculture, engineering, science

and math, information technology (IT), teacher education, and health sciences

are among the in-demand and priority courses for A.Y. 2014-2015 and A.Y.

2017-2018. While jobs that has to do with field crop working, tailoring and

dressmaking, aqua farm cultivating and forestry are the lowest paying jobs in our

country according to an article released by the Department of Labor and

Employment (DOLE) last May 3, 2017.

An article published by rappler last June 2016 states that, 629,703 senior

high school students are enrolled in the academic track, this confirms that most

senior high school students in the Philippines selected strands which are in-lined

with courses that requires science and math, business and management,

agriculture, and social sciences. This study has a significant influence in the lives

and decisions of Senior High School students through providing them better
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outlook of what lies ahead in the future, preparing the present generation of

students to be successful functional members of the society.

Significance of the study

This study plays a vital role in helping the students choose the accurate

career path for them through determining the major factors that influence their

course preference with means to greaten the chance of choosing the right career

and by extension lessen the possibilities of course misfit. The main benefactors

of this study are the Senior High School students, researches like this are

important to help students set their mind on the goals that they want to achieve

as early as now.

Purpose of the study

The sole intention of this study is to list the most commonly considered

career choice factors that affects the preferred courses of the Senior High School

students. Accurate course choice is often held to success, most successful

people are believed to be the best in their chosen field. The given factors may

possibly increase the chances of students to avoid wrong selection of course by

not limiting them from the popularly known careers and encourage them to bank

more on the opportunities that the world has to offer, in this case students will
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have a wider view point thus providing them lots of options with regards on the

possible factors that may influence their success.

Objective of the study

The general objective of this study is to determine the factors that affects

the career choice of Senior High School students at the Notre Dame of Kabacan

Inc.

Specifically, it is sought to:

1. To describe the Socio-demographic characteristics of the Senior High School

students.

2. To determine the top 5 factors that affects most of the Senior High School

students’ career choice.

3. To determine the significant influence of the factors in the career choice of Senior

High School students.

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Theoretical Framework

Career planning is a decision that should be guided and taken seriously in

order to prevent misfits and unsatisfying results. According to Elmer (1989) as

cited in Arguelles & Miranda (2014), specialization planning is life goal setting.

That is why as early as now, students are encouraged to start preparing for their

future career plans. Below are some of the theories on career planning and

specializations.

First, is John Holland’s theory of career choice, selecting a career or

course that perfectly fits your personality based on Holland’s description is a

crucial step toward successful career choice and higher rate of job satisfaction.

Holland’s theory of career choice is one of the theory used in this study in order

to properly guide the expected outcome of this research. When using Holland’s

theory, careers are determined by an interaction between our personality and the

environment. Meaning, chances of choosing future jobs is highly influenced by

both personal and environmental factors thus wanting your job to have include

people with the same characteristics and traits making the work place as your

comfort zone. Holland (1994), suggest that the closer the match of personality to

job, the greater the satisfaction. Holland’s theory places emphasis on the

accuracy of self-knowledge and career information necessary for career decision

making (Zunker, 1994) as cited in Abernathy (2003).

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In the summary of this theory, people are observed to seek for job

environments where they have the freedom to express and use their skills and

abilities and impart their values and attitude. This theory also supports the claim

that those people who opted to work in an environment which is closely related to

their personality are more likely to become successful and satisfied in life.

Another theory on career choice that will be used in this study is Albert

Bandura’s social cognitive theory. This theory simply explains the process of

influences that humans encounter in terms of choosing a career path, it is one of

the most renowned theories which provides an outline for understanding,

predicting and changing human behavior through collecting personal ideas that

people learn just by watching what others do. This theory requires, attention to

focus on the things in order to learn something, retention of what you have

learned, reproduction of the behaviors that you have observed, and lastly,

motivation to do your passion. A well-motivated person is more productive

because of the eagerness to become the best version of their selves.

Dr. Gottfredson’s developmental theory of occupational aspirations is also

used. This theory explains the reflection of one’s self-concept, people tend to

look for jobs that is suited with their self-image, students are more likely to seek

jobs that relates to their personality. Self-concept, orientation to sex roles and

social valuation are the key determinants of this theory.

Holland’s theory on career choice combined with Bandura’s social

cognitive theory and Gottfredson’s developmental theory will be used in this

study to determine the most common factors that affects the career choice of
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Senior High School students. These theories has significant relevance to the

study through providing the researcher an idea of what is needed in the order to

conduct the study. The information rendered by each theory will be applied in

conducting and evaluating the findings of this research.

Hypothesis:

1. The majority of Senior High School students considers both natural

environment and economic factors as their guide in choosing college

course.

2. Most of Senior High School students in the Notre Dame of Kabacan Inc,

considers other affecting factors in career choice than nature and

environment.

Scope and Limitation

This study covers the factors that affects the career choice of the NDKI

Senior High School students. It only focuses on the numerical tally of data

gathered from the respondents based on the taken sample size. It does not

furthermore require the personal perception of the respondents with regards to

the results of this research.

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REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Factors affecting career choice

Career selection is one of many important choices students will make in

determining future plans. This decision will impact them throughout their lives.

The essence of who the student is will revolve around what the student wants to

do with their life-long work. (Borchert. 2002) in year 1996, Basavage asked in her

thesis, “What is it that influences children one way or another?” Over the school’s

front door at Rindge School ofTechnical Arts is the saying, “Work is one of our

greatest blessings. Everyone should have an honest occupation” (Rosenstock &

Steinberg, cited in O’Brien, 1996).

Each of us has different experiences in the past years of our lives which

helps us to have better understanding of the world and of the future. Those

experiences, in part by our own environment, personality, and opportunity, will

determine how we make our decisions and choose our path of career. How we

perceive as students the environment, personality and take opportunities are also

major factors in determining our choice of career (Borchert, 2002). Below are the

top 5 factors that affects the career choice of Senior High School students.

Natural Environment. The first factor that affects our decisions in

choosing our field of expertise is the natural environment or our habitat. For

example, students who have lived on an island may choose a career dealing with

the water, or they may choose to leave the island behind, never to have anything
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to do with water again. Maybe someone in the student’s life has made a

significant impact or impression, leading to a definite career choice. Parents’

educational background may influence student views on whether or not to

continue their education. Someone they saw on television may have influenced

the student, or parents may have demanded that they assume a family business.

These are various environmental factors that would lead a student to a chosen

career.

Personality. How students have seen themselves in a role in which

personality is a determining factor may influence a chosen career. Some careers

demand that you have the personality to match the qualities of the occupation.

For example, sales people have to be outgoing. Splaver (1977) said “personality”

plays an important role in the choosing of the right career. A student’s personality

must be a self-motivated type, as to investigate career possibilities from early on

in their lives, and not the procrastinating type that waits until they are compelled

to decide. Students must take seriously the role grades play in limiting

opportunities in the future. Splaver went on to say, “It is important for you to have

a good understanding of yourself, your personality, if you are to make intelligent

career plans” (Splaver, 1977).

Opportunity. Is the third factor that has shaped career choices for

students. Opportunity may influence how students have perceived their future in

terms of the reasonable probability of a future in particular career fields. The

issue of poverty has played an important determining role in the opportunities

available to all. The income level of high school families may determine what
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career a student chooses during a specific time in the student’s life; choices that

will determine a large part of that student’s future. Some students will have to

budget education according to their personal income. (Thout, 1969) addressed

those in desperate need, “Where necessary, these persons Individuals described

as living under the poverty level] must be assisted through special training

programs to overcome educational and social handicaps so that minimum job

standards can be met”. Students in many cases will need the proper mentoring

opportunities to succeed. These support groups will be another opportunity that if

properly implemented, can help a student in the career choice process. The

support system must have been in place and readily available for the student to

utilize. The creation of support groups will have to be in place to sustain the

student through times of financial, emotional, and educational need.

Economic factors/ Ideal Job. Another factor that affects the career

choice of an individual are the high-paying jobs with great benefits and large

salary that he or she will avail after graduating from college or the so-called

economic factor. “Students are not properly oriented as to what course to choose

out of their interest and skills but because of the thought that these courses will

provide jobs in the future. More so, students are opting career they think will give

better paying job in the future.” (Pascual, 2013) Economic factors includes the

employability and availability of job in the future. The earning potential of your

chosen profession is likely to be a factor that influences your career path. You

may find one aspect of your career is more financially rewarding than another, or

that working your way through the ranks holds greater financial incentive than
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staying in the same job. Your personal financial needs are also likely to influence

the career choices you make. Opportunity is the third factor that has shaped

career choices for students. Opportunity may influence how students have

perceived their future in terms of the reasonable probability of a future in

particular career fields. The issue of poverty has played an important determining

role in the opportunities available to all (McQuerrey, 2006).

Family. Parents often have an influence on the career paths their

offspring pursue. A parent may urge a child into a vocation similar to their own, or

to one that has demonstrated high earning power. You may find yourself

attracted to a particular line of work because of your parents’ professional history,

which likely has given you a first-hand perspective on that type of work. Many

children grow up idealizing the professions of their parents. If you always looked

up to your mother and admired her teaching skills that may influence you to

pursue a career in education. Parents may also intentionally or unintentionally

push a child toward a particular career path, especially in the cases of family-

owned businesses, where parents expect their children to take over the

company. Still other parents apply pressure on their offspring to strive for

particular high-profile careers, feeling they are encouraging their children to

reach high (McQuerrey, 2006).

One consistent finding in research suggests that adolescents’ own

aspirations are influenced by their parent’s aspirations or expectations. Parental

support and encouragement are important factors that have been found to
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influence career choice. Children may choose what their parents desire simply to

please them. (Taylor et al, 2004)

As a result of the survey on the factors that affects the career choice of

high school students, it shows that the students’ first consideration in choosing a

course in college is the availability of possible work (Pascual, 2013). This could

be the common response of students since now-a-days graduates finds it difficult

to find a job even if they have already finished well know courses such as nursing

and education courses. The problem with using this factor as an option in

choosing a course is that students may have a tendency to choose a misfit

course on their ability and skills. In the long run, student will find it difficult to find

a job with his/her course, chosen out of the motivation that there are lots of

workforce needed is that specific course, which are seasonal and gradually

decreases when there are too much graduates produced in the so-called in

demand courses. The possible course chosen that is not fitted to the students

may also lead to their inability to qualify to the competencies needed by

companies. This is because their ability is not suited with course they have taken,

thus will not unleash their maximum potentials.

Peer factor may be the least consideration of students in choosing a

course in college. This shows that students are having independent decisions

when it comes to choosing their desired course in college, not much affected by

decisions of peer and family. But when considered closely, although with low

mean value, highest standard deviation is seen the parents being the ones
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choosing the course and dominant profession in the family is the preferred

course which entails that students have various response on this items, thus,

family can also be considered a factor in choosing the college course for the few.

The findings of the present study do not support the study that the course

preference of Filipinos are mostly affected and influenced by the decision of their

parents and family. Reasons may vary depending on the family orientation of the

study.

These career choice factors plays a significant role in the lives of every

high school student because these given factors are one of the major keys for

them to become successful individuals. It is important to determine as early now

what career is best for you to avoid misfit of courses. In today’s present

generation, one has not only to make due career planning but also exhaustive

career research before making a career choice so as to adjust with the evolving

socio-economic conditions (Wattles, 2009). Amino and Timothy (2014) further

explains that the type of choice made by students influences their academic

performance. If correct career decisions are taken early in life, young adults may

have satisfaction and fulfilment in life and, therefore, contribute towards the

economy and development of this country. Other factors, such as ability and

entry requirement in those fields are not explored. When they enter into higher

education institutions, the choices students make are not informed and they find

themselves in the position of being dissatisfied with the field of study they have

chosen (Alika, 2012).

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Kusumawati (2013) also reported that students considered factors such as

proximity, university reputation, job prospect and parental support as influencing

factors in choosing a career. However, it was apparent in the study that the one

important factor in learners choosing a university was financial implications

related to studying. The students make the choice of studies by comparing the

cost of studying and their benefit after studying. Therefore, most students look at

their economic status when making a career choice.

Nevertheless, students’ career success can be best attained if the right

course suited to their personality, ability and intellect serves as their guide in

choosing the course they are to take in college. It is important to help and guide

students to understand the important factors they have to consider in choosing a

course. Combined efforts of the school administrations, guidance counselor and

parents should also be made to come up with better career plan for every

individual student.

These given career choice factors influences them in a manner that they

make it a basis and at the same time a motivation to excel in their chosen field.

Moreover, this also becomes a driving factor for them to be eagerly successful in

order to live and enjoy the kind of life that they want. To make their family and

friends proud is also considered as one of the many significant influence that

each factors give which affect their career choice and future plans.

METHODOLOGY

Research Design
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The study will be carried out using descriptive research design to

determine the total population of the Senior High School students at the Notre

Dame of Kabacan inc and the factors that affects their career preference.

Gathering of data will be done through survey.

Research Instrument
The instrument that will be used to carry out this research is an adopted-

modified questionnaire from Michael Borchert .The questionnaire will be

composed of three parts, first is the socio-demographic, second is the

determining factors that affects the course preference of SHS students and third

is the career choice.

Sampling Method and Respondents

Simple random sampling will be used to completely identify the total

number of SHS students who will serve as the respondents of this research. This

study will be conducted at the Notre Dame of Kabacan inc (NDKI), Kabacan,

Cotabato, specifically at the Senior High School (SHS) building.

Data Gathering Procedure

In order to gather the data related to the study, the researcher will have to

read books and browse the internet for prior information. Also the researcher will

forward a letter to the principal of the NDKI Senior High School for approval to
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conduct the study. Then, questionnaires will be distributed to the respondents for

proper evaluation and will be collected right after they are have finished

answering, for the interpretation and tally of the data.

Statistical Analysis

Descriptive statistics will be applied in interpreting and analyzing the data

gathered, including the frequency, mean and percentage.

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