Effectiveness of career guidance workshops on the career self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and career goals of adolescents: an intervention study

Studies consistently show the demand among adolescents for structured career guidance support programmes. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the career guidance workshop intervention by examining changes in career self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and career goals with 47 high school students in grades 10-12 (aged 16-18 years). Based on a five-step model including self-awareness, career exploration, school and career paths, real encounters, and decision-making, the career guidance workshop combined lectures, discussions, individual activities, and pair and group work. Data were collected through career self-efficacy, outcome expectation, and career goal questionnaires and analysed using a pre- and post-test design with a single intervention group. Results suggested a significant improvement in participants' career self-efficacy and their career goals. Although the findings on outcome expectations were not significant, the findings also showed an increase after the intervention. Thus, career guidance intervention is considered a valuable basis to improve adolescents' career decision-making skills.