Student Career Exploration

During college, students face challenges on where they would like to go in their career. Behrens and Nauta (2014) say, “Approximately 50% of students indicate they have decided on a career by the time they enter college, over half of those with declared majors change them at least once, suggesting their goals are often still in flux” (p. 224). College students are open to career exploration, however, the challenge of making a decision causes great distress. It is most concerning when students reach the end of their college studies and feel the pressure of deciding on a career before they enter the real world. A solution for undecided students who need guidance, career counselors are available to provide support. In career counseling, there are numerous standardized tests and self-assessment procedures available for career exploration. One of the many …show more content…
The authors compared a sample of college students who completed the SDS with a no-treatment control group. Before conducting the study authors hypothesized that compared with those who were not receiving any intervention, students who completed the SDS would report a greater increase in the number of career alternatives, a greater increase in the amount of career exploration being conducted, and a decreased likelihood of having sought career counseling after the intervention (Behrens & Nauta, 2014). Confirming their hypothesis, the authors found that compared with students who did not receive the intervention, students who completed the SDS reported a greater increase in the number of occupations they were considering 4 weeks later. Contrary to other authors who conducted this study and questioned the effectiveness, institutions and career centers may use the SDS, as Behrens and Nauta (2014) and a number of other studies have proved that the SDS is an effective