Factors which impact on career choice

Résumé du document

Studying career choice consists in studying how one of the most important roles (the professional role) that the individual has to assume throughout his life, articulates. This way of viewing the diverse roles may represent a fragmented conception of the person. On the contrary, the project of life should be seen as a whole, composed of various projects or events that occur throughout the ages. These roles are felt, evaluated and experienced differently in different stage of development of the individual. To work, is primarily a way to earn a living and to have revenue enough to ensure our survival and our well being. Thus, choosing a profession is one of the most worrisome tasks in the life of most people. This decision-making is complex because it brings together a number of personal, social and environmental factors which are otherwise in opposition. We must take into account factors such as interests, personality, skills and values. Elements such as age, family or ethnic origin, economic conditions, the behavior of the labor market etc, also influence our career choice. This essay will concentrate on three of them: Gender stereotype, family and personality.

Extraits

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[...] In which extent do stereotypes impact on the career choices of people? The table below presents the occupation distribution of women: We note that women remain clustered in jobs that are traditionally dominated by women and pay low wages. Women are confined o a limited range of occupations. On the contrary, men make more diverse career choices. Obviously, gender stereotypes have an influence on the choices that determine people's careers. It starts very early with the choice of study. The campaigns regularly lead by the agencies responsible for equal opportunities suggest differences in terms of career choices between boys and girls. [...]

[...] Finally, another gender stereotype suggests that women are more influenced by lifestyle perceptions associated with their career choices, than men. It is not rare that employers look at a young woman thinking that she will get married and have children and thus give up work one day or another. Some organisations have HR policies based on gender stereotypes. Therefore, even if a woman chooses an “atypical” career she may not get it because employers prefer to hire a man. Gender stereotypes are conveyed since ever by everyone (teachers, parents, media ) and everyday. [...]

[...] So, it appears clearly that family has an impact on career choices of people. What is a family? The Collins English Dictionary defines a family as group of people who are related to each other, especially parent and their children” Our career choices are often influenced by people who are very close to us. Family is a factor that can have a significant impact because it is the environment that influences us since our birth. Indeed, we grew up in it and its members raised us. [...]

[...] Furthermore, I chose to study gender stereotypes because as female I noticed that gender stereotypes still exist and can be thought to be the truth. Consequently it can discourage people (consciously or unconsciously) to choose the type of occupations that will lead them to satisfaction. I was all the more interested in exploring the impact of gender stereotypes on career choices as I would like to be an entrepreneur. The rate of women in entrepreneurship is still quite low. Finally, I chose to look at the impact of family on career choices of individuals because my family has a significant importance in my live. [...]