The career difficulties of university students in the UK

A qualitative study of the perceptions of UK HE career practitioners

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21516331
AutoresJudy Yates (0000-0002-9405-3642, City, University of London), Julia Yates (0000-0001-9235-564X, City, University of London, autor de correspondencia), Wendy Hirsh (University of Derby)
Año2025
Volumen53
Número1
Páginas128-142
Fecha de publicación2025-01-02
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaBritish Journal of Guidance and Counselling (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0306-9885 • E-ISSN: 1469-3534
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03069885.2024.2412199
OpenAlexW4403244690
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas42

Existing research has identified the key career difficulties faced by those making career decisions, but little is known about career practitioners’ perceptions of the career difficulties of university students in the UK. We conducted 22 in depth interviews with Higher Education career practitioners and analysed their data with a Template Analysis – a version of thematic analysis. Three themes were developed incorporating emotions (anxiety and low confidence), cognitions (unrealistic or limited understanding of themselves, of the labour market, of the processes of career choice and of practitioner career support) and behaviours (engaging late with career thinking, a disproportionate focus on CVs and a reluctance to take ownership of career planning). Findings showed that these emotional, cognitive and behavioural career difficulties were interrelated. The findings are discussed with reference to existing theory and theoretical and practical recommendations are made

Career development · Medical education · Pedagogy · Perception · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Career Development and Diversity · Higher Education and Employability · Higher Education Research Studies · Medicine · Psychology