What young people prioritize when choosing a professional education program: Trends and challenges in career guidance (findings from a questionnaire survey)

Abstract

The rapidly changing economy requires that young people take well-informed career decisions, making career guidance a crucial component of workforce training. Understanding the preferences of young people and the information they rely upon can help educational institutions adapt and refine their programs and teaching methods. The article analyzes what young people prioritize when selecting professional education institutions and evaluates the effectiveness of career guidance methods in terms of facilitating successful career choices. The study surveyed 272 individuals aged 16–30 residing in Moscow. The data was collected via a questionnaire distributed through Google Forms and analyzed using SPSS software (ver. 23). The responses were categorized by profession according to E.A. Klimov’s classification, and a univariate descriptive analysis was applied to the collected data.

The findings revealed notable trends in career guidance. When choosing an education institution, respondents place significant emphasis on the institution’s partnerships with organizations offering internships, which highlights the importance of practical experience in their decision-making. However, respondents rarely attend career fairs and workshops, which often results in reduced motivation to pursue a career in the chosen field. Overall, the findings show that young people consider a variety of factors when choosing a professional education program —such as the reputation of the educational institution and employment opportunities — but they do not always have a clear understanding of their future profession’s specifics.