Why do people not pursue their career in their field of graduation?

As per the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report 2019-20, student enrolment up by 11.4% in higher education. As many as 3.38 crore students enrolled in programmes at the under-graduate and post graduate levels. According to Google, approximately 50,00,000 graduates pass out every year.

Enrollment of Indian Students by Level of Education

Graduate (Bachelor’s) 17,456 86%

Post-Graduate (Master’s) 2,492 12%

Research (Doctoral) 161 1%

Diploma/Certificate 218 1%

Total 20,327

SOURCE: www.dreducation.com

Now, the topic is; why they don’t make a career in their field of graduation?

Well! Several students pursue wrong for their graduation. If we see the statics, 47 percent of college graduates did not find a first job that was related to their college major. What's more, 32 percent of college grads said that they had never worked in a field related to their majors.

Students are not able to recognize their exact interests often after their schooling. It gets so late when they realize their passion and interest. No one can recognize his/her qualities and talents a day. We experience every day as a human being that we learn and nurture ourselves with each passing days.

There could be so many reasons for not preferring what they have chosen for study in graduation. Many factors can influence come into play when college students choose of career path. According to UTM (website), factors such as:

i. Interest in the Field:

Some students grow up knowing what they want to do in life. These are the students who will go the extra mile to reach their dream job. However, students often settle on a different path due to many factors they can’t control. Students will research their chosen career path and explore everything about it. The salary and benefits of that job do not play a role in this decision. In a research study the factor “match with interest” is rated over job characteristics, major attributes, and psychological and social benefits in importance when students choose a major (Beggs et al., 2008). Students will seek out schools that are well known for that major or trade. Most students today are more concerned with the amount of money they can earn. However, there are a few students who pursue their dreams (Mcglynn, 2007).

ii. Academic Ability:

Many students choose their major based on their academic ability (Beggs et al., 2008). However, some students do not have the ability or the work habits to succeed in some majors that may require more study than other fields of study. These students may find a better fit in a less work-intensive major that requires fewer difficult classes. This affects the career paths of these students. Other students can handle majors with greater workloads and 8 choose the career path that will lead to a job requiring more education. Examples in this category include veterinarians, doctors, or lawyers. For jobs such as these, students need more than one degree. On the other hand, some students have the drive to put in the work in very labor-intensive fields but do not have the intelligence to perform the tasks that are needed for their chosen field (Beggs et al., 2008). These students often receive help from tutors, special education teachers, and special exceptions when taking exams and doing homework. Students are given every opportunity to excel and work in their field.

iii. Economic Stability:

Many students believe that to live a comfortable lifestyle they need to be economically stable. When these students look into a major or a career path, they seek out the higher salary jobs or they look for majors that involve the most job security (Wildman and Torres, 2002). The 11 financial aspects that students consider include high earning potential, benefits, and opportunities for advancement (Beggs et al., 2008). Given the current economy and American culture, many students think they need a high-paying job to make it in society these days. Along with stability during their career, some students may even look ahead to retirement. Students want to make sure they are secure for the rest of their lives and may look into careers that have benefits to help them in the long run (Wildman and Torres, 2002).

iv. Personality:

Personality is another important factor in career choice. Studies have shown that students will choose a major that they think will fit their personality type (Mihyeon, 2009). The confidence that a student has can determine how far a student will go with their education. Students who believe in themselves have more confidence and are more likely to go for what they want instead of settling for something comfortable. The personality of students can also play a role in choosing a major. According to studies, students who have an investigative personality are more likely to major in science fields. Students with an artistic personality are more likely to major in arts and interdisciplinary fields. Students who are very social people are more likely to major in the social sciences (Porter and Umbach, 2006).

v. Influential People also Play a Role in Decision Making:

Family and friends are considered to be an influential part of students’ choice of major. Parents with an agriculture background most often have an impact on where students go to college. Family role models have more of an influence on what students major in (Wildman and Torres, 2002). Many people in a student’s life can influence their career decisions. Most of the time, parents and friends play a large role, but coaches and teachers can also have a huge impact 10 on a student’s life (Wildman and Torres, 2002). Teachers and coaches can help a student to do better in school, to get into college or to get on a better path. The impact that these adults have on young students can have a major influence on their career path. Academic or athletic coaches are role models for students and also play a big part in molding future generations. Coaches help prepare young men and women for the challenges outside of high school by exposing them to challenges including situations in and out of the classroom (Blum, 1995). How students react to these lessons early in life can play a big part in what decisions students make down the road. A bad role model or coach can have a negative influence leading to bad life choices, while a good role model or coach can have a positive influence leading to good decisions.

vi. Outside Factors:

Many outside factors can affect how a young man or woman will choose their career. The environment in which a student grows up plays a vital role in their choice of career path. If a student grows up in an environment where all young men and women go straight to work after high school, that student will be more likely to go straight into the workforce as well (Swanson and Fouad, 1999). Some students have more opportunities than others; some have scholarships to go to college, some have the connections to help them go further, and some come from wealthier families. These things make it easier for a student to choose any career path they might like, compared to a student who does not have these opportunities (Cross and Slater, 1997).