Bengaluru: A survey conducted by Lodestar Career Guidance among Class 9 and 10 students from 102 schools in the city revealed that the students are not keen on salary, status and security when it comes to their career, but want to focus on their strengths and passion. They also strongly feel that parents are not the best choice when it comes to career counselling, but it helps to do own research and to seek professional help.
The survey, conducted among 6,000 students, found that 63% of the respondents felt that the career decision should be made based on a combination of aptitude, strength and passion and not just on salary, status and security. 45% of the students felt that work satisfaction is the most important factor for them while choosing a career.
The survey revealed that even in their ninth and tenth standards and in their early teens, these students were career conscious. 67% felt that high school is the best time to plan their career. 69% of the students said that they will research career options before picking the stream and not give into parents’ advice, peer pressure or career fads.
Another major finding is that most of the students are now going away from the traditional “dream jobs”, such as software, engineering and medical. There is an emergence of manufacturing and core engineering as a career of choice among 12% students. This is because of robotics, 3D printing and nanotechnology becoming popular. The study observed a rise in preference for government and public jobs among 12% students because of increased wages after the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission and also a rise in social consciousness. 10% of the students are also interested in healthcare (non-doctor related jobs) because of the emergence of many career options within the healthcare and wellness industry. Mr Subodh Jindal, co-founder, Lodestar Career Guidance, said, “A lot has changed in the past 25 years since the parents of today’s students passed their own high schools.”
