THEORITICAL BACKGROUND

This study is anchored by to Self-Development Approaches to Career theory by David

Tiedman.

This theory believes that a person is responsible for one's own behavior because he/she has

the capacity for choice and lives in a world which is not deterministic. This means that every

student should be decisive and take full responsibility to every action or decision he or she would

make, despite of the available choices. According to Harren (2001), the process of making a

decision, an individual progresses through seven sequential stages: (1) exploration, (2)

crystallization, (3) choice, (4) clarification, (5) induction, (6) reformation, and (7) integration.

Decision-making styles may be: planning, intuitive, impulsive, agonizing, delaying, paralytic,

fatalistic, and compliant. Planning is viewed as the most effective style with intuitive sometimes

being effective. These stages are vital in forming a decision in choosing a specialization, since this

may determine one’s future career path. Tiedeman believes that evolving ego identity is of central

importance in the career development process. Tiedeman referred to the evolving self-in-situation

from the earliest awareness of self to point at which individual becomes capable of evaluating

experiences, anticipating, and imagining future goals, and storing experiences in memory for

future reference with Tiedeman’s context of Erik Erikson’s eight psychosocial crises. Self-in-

situation, self-in-world and the orientation of work evolve as one resolves the psychosocial crises

of life.
 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Family Decision

Respect for family is one of the most influential factors that impact Filipino students’ career

decision. It is concurred that “Out of respect and loyalty, it may not be appropriate to express

personal desires; rather, one may alter one’s interests to maintain harmony.” As a sign of respect,

Filipino children want to do well for the sake of the family, follow parents’ advice about choosing

a job or major in college and lastly, make sacrifices for the family (Finlayson, 2009). For

practicality reasons, it is also reported that parents usually encourage careers that will not cost

much money, but at the same time, are stable sources of income. Careers in nursing, accounting,

and engineering are highly popular for Filipino families (Saysay, 2011).

Interest

Social cognitive career theory (SCCT) is grounded in Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive

theory, and explores how career and academic interests mature, how career choices are developed,

and how these choices are turned into action. The theory states that people will last long in a career

if he or she finds him or her competent in that path and when they anticipate that performing it

will produce valued outcomes.

Job Demand or Job Opportunities

There are many opportunities that wait for every career that one wants to pursue. Some

people may stumble upon better occupation opportunities, thanks to the strategies and steps that

they follow. Investigating for career opportunities is well worth taking time (Mind Tools, 2014).

By doing this, one can discover opportunities that are perfectly matched to his/her interests or
skills, find out about promotions and job openings before anyone else, and identify ways of

expanding the knowledge and skills needed for that career.

Peer Influence

Just like family, people tend to value their friends’ opinions on things. These opinions may

be a basis for a person’s career. Influence from friends is not only limited to opinion, but also

influence from peers may be from what career they are currently taking. When a person sees his

or friend succeeding in his or her chosen endeavor, one would think that if he or she would engage

in that career, he or she would triumph as well.

Personality

“Personality” plays an important role in choosing of the right career. A student’s

personality must be self-motivated type, as to investigate career possibilities from early on in their

lives, and not the procrastinating type that waits until they are compelled to decide. Students must

take seriously the role grades play in limiting opportunities in the future. Splaver went on to say

“It is important for you to have good understanding of yourself, your personality, if you are to

make intelligent career plans” (Splaver 2000). Perception of being suitable for particular jobs also

has been found to be influenced by a number of factors including ethnic background, year in

school, level of achievement, choice of science subjects, attitudes and difference in job

characteristics (McQuiad and Bond, 2003)