Determinants of Generation Z’s School Orientation and Career Choice
Determinants of Generation Z’s School Orientation and Career Choice

Summary/Abstract: In the context of the globalized society where the digital revolution has projected waves of economic, political, cultural, family, etc. dimensions, we are discussing the digital generation which, due to its psychological profile, has been given various names: Generation Z, Wireless Generation, Wi-Fi Generation, Facebook Generation, Instant Generation, etc. Considering the common patterns of young people who belong to this generation - of thinking and relating to themselves, to society, to the activity carried out - the purpose of the study is to identify the factors that influence them in their school orientation and professional choice. The sample is made up of 90 students enrolled in the first year of undergraduate university study programs from the faculties of Humanities and Sciences and Economic Sciences of the Petroleum and Gas University of Ploiești. In order to collect relevant information regarding the determining factors in the school orientation and professional choice of young people belonging to generation Z, a questionnaire-based survey was used, applied online to first-year students enrolled in various specializations belonging to the two faculties mentioned above. Also, a focus group discussion proved to be useful to identify details about young people’s aspirations, expectations and representations regarding school and professional orientation. The analysis of the data obtained following the application of the questionnaire, but also during the focus-group discussion, highlighted the different benchmarks that the young generation Z have in shaping their professional approach, beyond the common patterns impregnated by the digital society. The difference is given by the extent to which they are concerned with looking for answers to the questions “who am I?”, “what do I want to become?”, based on which they can outline their self-identity.

• Details
• Contents