Work Value Orientation and TVET Students’ Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy: The Mediating Role of Academic Major Satisfaction

Abstract

Graduates should know how technical and vocational education and training (TVET) can increase their employability and set them on a path to a professional career. However, graduate underemployment continues to be a severe and rising issue in many countries due to graduates’ lack of readiness to make a future career decision. The present study assessed the influence of work value orientation on Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy (CDMSE) and the mediating role of Academic Major Satisfaction (AMS) on the relationship between work value orientation and CDMSE of TVET students. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving 223 full-time Malaysian Skills Certificate (MSC) students who were randomly selected from TVET public institutions in Selangor, Malaysia. This study found that work value orientation was positively correlated with CDMSE. Extrinsic work values have more impact than intrinsic values in serving as precursors to students’ career decision-making. Besides, AMS satisfaction mediated the relationship between work value orientation and CDMSE.