An examination of selected factors influencing the career decisions of Aboriginal university students

Abstract

This study documents and analyses Aboriginal post-secondary students' perceptions of selected influences on their career development and planning. Six areas are examined: 1) parental influence; 2) teacher influence; 3) peer influence; 4) ethnic and gender expectations; 5) academic self-efficacy; and 6) the role of negative social events. A questionnaire based on the Career Interest Inventory (Fisher & Stafford, 1999) was administered to 150 undergraduate students. Three factors were significant for this population: 1) positive influence in the form of support from parents, teachers, peers, and students' academic experiences and self-efficacy; 2) negative social events in the context of having friends in trouble with the law, addictions, teen pregnancy, indifference to schooling, dropping out of high school, and deaths of friends; and 3) ethnic and gender expectations emanating from parents and teachers. Based on these findings, directions for further research, and implications for counselors and educators, are outlined.