Understanding Career Choice Dilemma in Kenya: Issues of Informed Choices and Course Availability

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors determining Students’ career choice in Kenya. The study sought to determine the influence of factors of opportunity and personality on career choice among students in Kenyan universities. The study adopted descriptive survey design and targeted 3,000 students in the faculty of Arts at the University of Nairobi. A simple random sampling was used to draw a sample of 500 respondents. Data was collected by use of questionnaires. Data was analyzed using SPSS (version 23). A total of 457 questionnaires were filled by the respondents. The findings showed that opportunity factors influence student’s career choices. Such includes perception of ideal job, mentorship opportunities and education opportunity. Personal factors also influenced student’s career choices. Such factors included personal interest personal value and personal skills. The study concludes that students require mentorship so as to develop ideas regarding their careers and thus informed choices.

Keywords: Career choice, informed choices, Course