Abstract
Introduction:
Career choice is a complex decision for students since it determines the kind of profession that they intend to pursue in life. As students try to make a career choice while in secondary school, they face the problem of matching their career choices with their abilities and school performance.
Aims:
The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing career choice among dental college students in private dental collages in Tamil Nadu, India.
Settings and Design:
The study was conducted using descriptive survey design with a population of 989 students. The data for this study was collected using a questionnaire and interview schedules.
Materials and Methods:
The data for this study was collected using questionnaire previously used by Swati Shah and Rajaraman and interview schedules. The analysis of the study was based on the factors: Outcome expectations, gender, personal interests, and other factors.
Results and Conclusion:
The most common reason for among the dental students to choose dental science as their career choice was self-interested followed by didn′t get medicine degree, prestige and gives respect. The least common reasons observed in the study population were inspired by dentists. The findings of this study indicate that availability the most influential factors affecting career choices among students.
Keywords: Careers, dental science, questioner, students
In ancient civilization choosing a career was not that much difficult because at that time, career path was determined according to the family background.[1] The Career Key is based on John Holland′s theory of vocational choice. At its simplest, this theory proposes that “Birds of the same feather flock together.” In other words, people like to be around others who have similar personalities. In choosing a career, it means that people choose jobs where they can be around other people who are like them.[2] Choices are open to people as well to get the required education and pursue a career life. Today the era is called post industrialization, knowledge based economy demands more skills to live a professional life.[1,3]
“A career is the sum total of paid and unpaid work, learning and life roles you undertake throughout your life. The term “career” was traditionally associated with paid employment and referred to a single occupation. In today′s world of work the term “career” is seen as a continuous process of learning and development” (What is a career). Career selection means a process of choosing a profession or occupation which will lead your future professional life. Job satisfaction needs a person′s inner need fulfillment. Whatever occupation he/she has chosen, recognition of its work is important.[4] The present study was aimed to evaluate the various reasons which served as their basis to select dentistry as their career.
Materials and Methods
The purpose of this study was to examine various factors influencing career choice among dental college students in private dental collages in Tamil Nadu, India. The study was conducted using descriptive survey design with a population of 989 under graduates dental students from 1st year to internship from various private dental collages where the academic attachment of authors. The data for this study was collected using questionnaire previously used by Swati Shah and. Rajaraman and interview schedules. The findings of this study indicate that availability the most influential factors affecting career choices among students. The results were analyzed and tabulated.
Results
The most common reason for among the dental students to choose dental science as their career choice was self-interest followed by didn′t get medicine degree, prestige and gives respect [Table 1]. The least common reasons observed in the study population were inspired by dentists, to make money and dental science as study of human parts. Bar diagram [Figure 1] shows the percentage of factors influencing dental students to choose dentistry as career. The various other factors which influenced the students were to do a master degree in oral surgery and become passionate in their specialization and also had enough money to continue the post-graduate and post-doctorate degree.
Table 1.
Various factors influenced dental students to choose dentistry as a career
Figure 1.
Bar diagram shows results in percentage
Discussion
Generally, it is believed that the primary motive behind the pursuit of various occupations is the Fundamental human need to “make ends meet,” to satisfy needs. While this has some truth in it, the contemporary society with its dynamic and sophisticated social and economic systems have taken the problem of occupational choice a step or two further by making it both complex and intriguing.[4] On the other hand, many are the variables that operate to decide which occupation an individual chooses. Practically, every effort put forth to decide an occupation translates, in the light of significant factors, to an effort to limit oneself from entering into a wide array of careers. In other words, occupational choices made imply foregoing several alternatives. A number of these factors tend to impact more strongly than others.[5]
The main objective of this study was to find out factors influencing career choice among dental students. The analysis of the study was based on the factors: Outcome expectations, gender, personal interests, and other factors. On expectations of students from career return, the results reported on Table 1.
The most common reason for among the dental students to choose dental science as their career choice was self-interested followed by didn′t get medicine degree, prestige and gives respect. The least common reasons observed in the study population were inspired by dentists, to make money and dental science as study of human parts. The various other factors which influenced the students were to do a master degree in oral surgery and become passionate in their specialization and also had enough money.
A universal hierarchy of these factors in order of extent of influence eludes us because, at least, no two individuals are the same. What may significantly influence the occupational preference of one person may have less significance for another. However, while it is difficult to determine the relative potency of these variables, it is true that there is some form of interaction among them where one modifies the other.[6,7]
Conclusion
Students′ career choices are influenced by numerous factors including outcome expectancies, individual variants such as gender, personal interests, learning experiences, environmental factors and personal contacts. Outcome expectancies were the most influential factors in students′ career choices′ however, gender and the environment play a very minimal role when it comes to career choice. There are variations in the level of influence each factor has on students′ career choices by gender. Family members are more influential in students′ career choices as compared to other persons.
Footnotes
Source of Support: Nil.
Conflict of Interest: None declared.
References
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