What Do They Want from a Career? University Students’ Future Career Expectations and Resources in a Health Crisis Context

Anne Pignault (), Emilie Vayre and Claude Houssemand
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Anne Pignault: 2LPN (Psychology & Neuroscience Lab, UR7489), Université de Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France
Emilie Vayre: Pôle de Psychologie Sociale—Unité INSERM U1296, Université Lumière Lyon 2, 69007 Lyon, France
Claude Houssemand: Institute for Lifelong Learning & Guidance, Department of Education and Social Work, University of Luxembourg, L-4366 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-17

Abstract: Young people and students, in particular, have often been presented as being particularly affected by the health crisis and its various psychological, social, and economic consequences. In this context, the present study sought to better understand the links between the anxiety generated by this crisis regarding one’s professional future, the resources available, and future career expectations. A total of 585 higher education students participated in the study during the third lockdown in France and completed a questionnaire that focused on anxiety and apprehension about the future, psychological and adaptative resources, and preferences for dimensions of new careers (kaleidoscopic, sustainable, protean, boundaryless, and opportunistic). The results show, on the one hand, significant links between anxiety, optimism, hope, career adaptability and preferences expressed for dimensions of new careers; on the other hand, dimensions that are more preferred than others. Finally, these results will be discussed in relation to the correlations already highlighted in the literature between individuals and career expectations, and to the more global reflection on the future of work. Possible avenues in the field of career counselling will be proposed.

Keywords: career; future; expectations; resources; meaning; students; crisis context (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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