Only 3.2 percent of graduates chose their specialty purely based on their personal interests. This indicator brings to the agenda the factors influencing applicants' choice of specialty and the extent to which young people's interests are taken into account in career guidance.
It is interesting, what factors influence applicants' choice of specialty more than their personal interests? How can young people's preference for other specialties instead of the field they love affect their future professional activities and positions in the labor market?
Speaking to AzEdu.az on the topic, education expert Almusa Atamaliyev stated that the fact that only 3.2 percent of graduates chose their specialty purely based on their personal interests is a thought-provoking indicator:
“This shows that when choosing a specialty, the majority of young people consider not only what they love, but also in which field they can find a job in the future, how much they will earn, and their families' expectations.
One of the main issues here is concerns about the situation in the labor market. The applicant thinks that if they complete a certain specialty, they can find a job faster and live more comfortably financially in the future.
In some cases, parental choice, society's greater prestige for certain professions, the desire to score high and be admitted to university also influence the young person's decision. Sometimes the applicant chooses not the specialty they love, but the field where their score is sufficient and which they think will provide more opportunities in the future.
However, one point should not be forgotten: it is important to choose a specialty that is in demand in the labor market, but this choice must be aligned with the young person's interests and abilities.
Because it can be more difficult for a person to succeed for a long time in a field they do not love. Of course, this does not mean that the person will necessarily be unsuccessful. However, problems such as an unenthusiastic approach to work, decreased motivation, and unwillingness to make extra effort for professional development may arise.
On the other hand, it is also not the right approach for a young person to make a choice without researching the opportunities in the labor market for the field they are interested in. It is not enough to just prefer the field they love. It is also necessary to learn what skills are required in that field, job opportunities, and future development prospects.
The most correct choice is at the point where personal interests, abilities, and the demands of the labor market coincide."
Here, responsibility cannot be placed solely on the applicant:
Career guidance work in schools should be organized more systematically, students should not only be given information about specialties, but their abilities and inclinations should also be determined. Young people should get acquainted with various professions from an earlier age, not after being admitted to university, communicate with people working in those fields, and see the real work environment.
We must not forget that being admitted to university is not the end of the goal, but the beginning of professional life. A young person should choose a specialty not just to get a diploma, but to become a professional in a field where they can realize themselves in the future.
Because choosing the right specialty is not just a matter of finding a job, but also one of the important decisions that determine how satisfied a person will be with their future life.”
