Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND REVIEW OF RELATED

The literature of this study focused on getting information about what

are the different major, moderate, and minor factors influencing the students

to choose and retain in their track that requires retention of the student into

studying their strand or course, all throughout their two preparatory years in

senior high school. Especially they are all graduating this year, this could be

essential and it would be important for them to know what factors are

affected in choosing and retaining in their respective track and whether it

would cause a positive or negative effect in the long run on their future

ahead.

Related Literature

Career vs Job

According to Poretsky (2018) he said that choosing a career and a job,

are far different from each other because, when we say “job” we are being

paid in exchange for our time while when we say “career”, this is a much

broader and imperative idea rather than the said first. Accordingly, though

“career” itself consists of multiple jobs, but career here is what job you would

want to see yourself busy with all throughout your whole working life.
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Although both contribute to similar implications, it has a different meaning

respectively. In addition, Hamm (2008) defined the difference between job

and career as; Job has insignificant effect on future resumes and job

applications as it’s completely unrelated to the stuff you’ll be applying while a

career on the other hand is a series of heavily related jobs that will always be

used on future applications and resume.

Environmental Factors

Students may feel as if environmental factors are not that important as it is,

but they just do not realize that they neglect one important aspect. Interest may be

evident, but only it is not a significant one. It is believed that students do listen to

the people surrounding them; and that those people may have similar, but not

significant ideas. Students may unintentionally express their thoughts based on the

concepts and recommendations of the people in their circle. Borchert (2002)

Passion and Interest

It has been always an almost easy way out for an individual to be able

to finish and complete one task that is within their interest. If one has no

patience upon looking at numbers, or anything that has something to do with

mathematics, either they will have a hard time taking up courses which deals

with a lot of math and computations or won’t have happiness or future in a

math-intensive career. Someone’s dream profession does not necessarily have

to match up perfectly with their interest because there is no such thing when

looking for a career. One still may encounter difficulties in finding a job that

flawlessly fits with their interests or hobbies so do not expect a perfect one.

But choosing a career which to some extent they are passionate with is a
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much better choice. If one is not interested or does not have patience with

regards to the responsibilities that may come across the career that they

chose, eventually, it will obviously come out. The lack of passion, motivation

and interest somehow leads to poor efficiency and output that may

unfavorably affect ones’ job. And when ones’ job is in critical condition due to

inefficient productivity, of course their salary is at stake and lastly, job

security will not be guaranteed. That is why, being passionate is again a

much more ideal choice. Miksen, (2018) “Motives are hypothetical states that

activate behavior, propelling us towards goal.” Rathus (2014). Without

motivation for someone who’s been walking through a path of goal,

motivation really is a must have item.

Skills

“Without the necessary skills, you’ll likely struggle and fail to produce.

And production is the name of the game for a successful employee. If you

don’t produce at a high level, you’re replaceable.” Miksen (2018) However,

Young (2009) concluded that it is an advantage to have diverse interests.

Because even if you develop and become the best at one common skill set,

though a bit impossible because just like for example, one would like to

develop his/her skill in cooking, still it would be impossible for him/her to be a

pro in cooking all the cuisine in the world. So it is best to develop between

two or three different skills like cooking, baking, bartending and etc. But all

are connected with food. Miksen (2018)

Industry Trends

According to Miksen (2018), “While you can always switch careers if

you choose one you find little success in, it is considerably easier and less

stressful to choose one you find little success and happiness for the long-

term. Ask yourself what you enjoy in life, what you do well and what you

want out of life, and you’ll start on the path toward a rewarding career.

Paying attention to industry trends doesn’t hurt either.” In addition to the

previous statement, “While a learner may show interest in specific career

choices, it is important that they also research available jobs or business

opportunities in that sector once they have gradated. As a growing economy,

some of our scarce and critical skills in the country are in the science,

technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. As a result,

demand for skilled professionals in these areas are very high. (IOL Business

Report, 2016) These shows that the students’ decision somehow depends on

the newest trend on what they think is a good course.

Personality and Career Adaptability

According to Miksen, (n.d) We are all different. We have different

tastes, preferences, and tempers. And someone’s success can answer how

the personality of the work seek influence on his choices, his work ambitions

and abilities. “Choosing a career that compliments your personality improves

your performance and productivity. For example, an extrovert in a sales job is

more likely to achieve sales targets and develop lasting relationships with

customers as opposed to an introvert in the same position. Employers and

employees have a responsibility to ensure each person is in a position that

suits their personality to improve performance. For example, design jobs

require inventive and creative individuals whereas a job in a research

department favors personalities that rate highly in analytical categories.

Oluoch (2015)

“Career adaptability relates to the coping mechanisms used to manage

career challenges and transitions, is incorporated in our conceptual

framework as it provides the link between people and their environments.

Today, it is our task to enable people to execute careers that will facilitate the

design of successful career lives. Moreover, we should help people pursue

education and training that will help them become more employable (in other

words, help them embrace the idea of life-long learning instead of life-long

employment in a single company). Career counseling theory and practice

transitioned from ‘helping’ people choose careers to empowering them to

choose careers and, subsequently, construct careers and themselves

relationally.” (Maree et. al, 2018)

Advice of Others

Pulakos et al. (2002) stated that career counsellors should help clients

become more adaptable by, for instance, becoming creative problem solvers,

dealing with unpredictable and volatile situations in occupational

environments, coping with stress and crises in occupational contexts and

acquiring new skills on a continual basis.

Major Influence on Career Choices

According to (All about Career, 2017) over half of 1500 first-year

undergraduates admitted they became interested in a particular career

through somebody they knew. The survey found that students’ friends and

family are a major influence on career choices. Of the 51% that admitted

being influenced by people close to them, 17% said they were influenced by

family members, whilst 34% had been influenced by their friends

Senior High School Program

Senior High School is two years of specialized upper secondary

education; students may choose a specialization based on aptitude, interests,

and school capacity. Each upcoming student in senior high school is entitled

to choose from among these tracks that they wish their selves in. There are

four strands; Academic, Technical-Vocational-Livelihood; Sports and Arts &

Design track. The Academic track includes four strands: Accountancy,

Business Management (ABM); Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS);

Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Mathematics (STEAM);

and General Academic strand. Then the Technical-Vocational Livelihood (TVL)

track has four strands; Home Economics (H.E), Information, Communication,

Technology (ICT), Agri-Fishery and Industrial Arts. The choice of career track

will define the content of the subjects a student will take in Grades 11 and 12.

(DepEd, 2015)
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Review of Related Studies

In the journal posted by Julien (1999) she stated that information used

by adolescents in making decisions about their future career includes

attitudes and beliefs acquired during childhood, including specific information

provided by a number of sources, including parents, siblings, other family

members, family friends, peers, guidance counsellors, teachers, school and

public library resources, the mass media and government career centres

Julien (1999). Although adolescents seem to seek advice from certain

individuals like friends,teachers and family more often, it is only because of

their occurrence rather than because these indiviuals help them in choosing a

career. Taviera et al (1998).

Parents have been cited as a strong influential factor in their children’s

career decision making. Middleton & Loughead (1993); Sebald (1989). This

influence may affect the adolescent career decision making as it has both

positive and negative effects Rainey & Borders (1997); Young et al (1997).

The following negative influence had been mention by Middleton & Loughead

(1993) that parental influence may have a less beneficial impact on

adolescents’ career exploration and decision making when it is characterised

by noninvolvement, indifference or negative involvement. This may create

obstacles for adolescents who are attempting to achieve their own career

which goals Middleton & Loughead (1993). Parental expectations have also

been shown to have an influence on educational aspirations by the

adolescents Mau et al (1998). Other parental factors that includes educational

and occupational status, attitudes and personal biases towards their own and

others’ occupation(s), financial concerns, rules and expectations may affect

the career information passed on to their adolescents Rainey & Borders

(1997); Young et al (1997). Additionally, adolescents may disregard potential

career paths due to being overly dependant on their parents Rainey &

Borders (1997).

Fizer (2013) adds that academic ability has a large impact on students

who are deciding what career path to choose. However, some students work

habits do not match the field of study they have chosen as students may

bevhaving low satisfaction due to the selected field of study. These students

students may find their chosen field to be challenging and uninteresting.

Therefore the assist of career guidance plays an imperative part with such

students to choose a field of study.

There is no doubt that monitory value could influence an individual in a

certain career path. Boudarbat and Montmarquette (2009) were able to

gather in their study that individuals’ decision on a particular career choice is

dominantly influenced by money. The study revealed that when students

choose a career in a university, they mostly consider the income they could

earn upon receiving their bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, the study indicated

that students who have held occupations search for degrees that will provide

them with a higher income when their studies are over. Additionally, it was

found that gender do have an effect in the choice of the career choice of the

students whereas males chose their careers because of the prestige attached
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to the career and females were influenced by family as well as friendly

working conditions. In support of the statement above, Agarwala (2008)

provided a study on factors influencing career choice by University students,

which was done in South Africa. The study indicated that work and life

conditions influenced most by prestige attached to the field of work and life

conditions. The environment could also have a great influence on career

choice. The environments include what the persons’ society needs and job

availability Sarwar & 12 Azmat (2013). Therefore student is most likely to

choose a field of study that a has high opportunities for employment within

his/her society. Agarwala (2008) continues to show other aspects that

influence career choice amongst students. These aspects include interest, life

ambition, challenging nature of the career, intellectual ability and prospects of

job opportunity. The study noted that learners were not getting proper career

guidance and learners make uninformed choices. Therefore the study

recommended that high schools should be provided with professional school

counsellors. Agwarla (2008) indicated that having right a skill or being

competent in a particular field of work does have an influences in a person’s

career choice. Gottfredson (2004) argued that young people choose careers

in accordance with their statuses at hand. Koivisto, et al., (2011) mention that

preparedness is an important element in making a career choice, learners

could benefit from extra interventions in assisting them to be prepared for life

after high school. A study that focused on interventions for assisting learners

to be prepared for career choice indicated that learners proved to be better

equipped to make a career choice, after attending a workshop. Furthermore,

the study indicates that through interventions learners are equipped in

planning for their careers which assists them in their career preparedness. It

is also said that there are cost effective ways to assist learners to make

appropriate career choices, such as workshops. If correct career decisions are

taken early in life, young adults may have satisfaction and fulfilment in life

and, therefore, contribute towards the economy and development of this

country. Learners make career choices based on prestige that 13 comes with

that career. Other factors, such as ability and entry requirement in those

fields are not explored. When they enter into higher education institutions,

the choices students make are not informed and they find themselves in the

position of being dissatisfied with the field of study they have chosen (Alika,

2012).