Career exploration via cooperative education and lifespan occupational choice
Date
2004
Authors
Linn, Patricia L
Ferguson, Jane
Egart, Katie
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Career exploration by Antioch College students who graduated between 1946 and 1955 (N=73) was studied to determine relationships between the occupational categories of cooperative education jobs taken in college (obtained from a campus archive) and subsequent work histories (obtained from surveying the graduates at about 70 years). Five hypotheses were tested. Results supported four of the hypotheses, with partial support for the fifth. Co-op jobs taken by the sample represented each of 23 occupational classifications, and most graduates took post-graduate jobs in occupational functions and contexts they had explored as co-op students. High levels of individuality in use of the co-op program and in career paths were found. Four co-op-to-career patterns were described, based on the degree to which functions and contexts were explored during college and career; a case study was included to exemplify each pattern. Gender differences were revealed in the patterns, but not the group data. Job context was particularly important in defining these patterns. Implications for research and practice were discussed tentatively, however given the lack of a control group, characteristics of the study sample, and particularities of the historical era studied, the ability to generalize beyond the study sample is limited.
Description
Keywords
Keywords: Career exploration; Career history; Career planning; Cooperative education; Lifespan; Occupational category; Standard Occupational Classification; Work-based learning
Citation
Collections
Source
Journal of Vocational Behaviour
Type
Journal article
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
License Rights
Restricted until
2037-12-31
Downloads
File
Description