The factors that influence career choice

Abstract

The primary aim of the study was to examine factors that influence career choices such as the individual, situational and environmental variables. The study was conducted in the motor retail industry whereby 223 respondents participated in the study by completing the questionnaire. Participants indicated that parents’ or relatives’ advice, association with others in the field, talent, skills and abilities, business opportunities and personal interests as significant influences on their career choices. The participants also identified perceived benefits such as employment security, potential for personal growth and development and opportunity to use skills and abilities as influential factors on career choice. The study also found that in the motor retail industry participants indicated that their gender has influenced their career choice; however educational levels were not seen as an influential factor on career choice. Furthermore, the study also examined participants’ perception of organisational career support with regards to utilisation of career support activities and management’s support for career development purposes. Even though participants indicated that the organisation has exposed them to career support activities, the participants’ use of career support activities were limited to training and mentoring within the organisation or externally to assist them with career development. It is the hope of the researcher that the identified factors influencing career choice and the examination of the organisational career support systems would be helpful to human resources practitioners and career counsellors, in order to assist individuals with career decision making as well as career development within the organisation as well as externally.