Career Choice Motives of Secondary School Students in Latvia

Proceedings of ‏The 5th International Conference on New Findings On Humanities and Social Sciences

Year: 2020

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33422/5th.hsconf.2020.11.113

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Career Choice Motives of Secondary School Students in Latvia

Rita Burceva, Rezekne, Ruta Geidane, Rezekne

ABSTRACT: 

The topicality of this article is related to studying the motives for choosing a profession as a mechanism of personal development and its impact on successful professional activity. The practical significance of this study is the opportunity to use the results in diagnostic and career choice activities with school students and develop methodology for successful integration of school graduates on the job market. The research aim is to study career choice motives of secondary school students. The research object is the career choice of secondary school students. To gather empirical data, a questionnaire was designed for the survey. The respondent sample included 152 students in grade 10, 11, and 12 at Rezekne Secondary School No.5. The research results set us thinking that the majority of school students need the help of a school career counsellor. An important criterion of an individual’s professional formation is independent and purposeful building of a career, making responsible decisions regarding the choice of a profession. An important role in making any decision (including the choice of a career) is held by the individual’s motivation, the formation of which is guided by different motives. The number of motives, the driving force of each motive, and actualization of situational factors determine the general level of motivation. School career counsellors need to take up a bigger role in forming the students’ motivation through communication with the students, their families, the school’s support staff, local government and manufacturing enterprises.

Keywords: career decision, motives, school career counsellor, secondary school.