Honors Projects

China Billotte

Abstract

Higher education institutions nationwide have begun providing their students with career services centers to assist them with professional development workshops, career consultations, and useful resources. Despite this, many college graduates leave without ever having utilized them. Previous research regarding career services has identified that social stigmas and lack of awareness negatively impact students’ usage of career service centers (Fouad et al., 2006). However, there is no existing research that examines the effects of contextual barriers or efficacy (e.g. self-efficacy, career search efficacy) in conjunction with subjective norms and awareness of services on the usage of career services. This study examined the influence of perceived behavioral control, via the theory of planned behavior, and contextual barriers (e.g. perceived and objective contextual and environmental factors that can hamper career progress) on college students’ usage of available career services. In addition, analysis of students’’ post-graduation career optimism, outcome efficacy regarding career services usage, and career search efficacy were examined to identify any influence or relationship they may have on students’ career preparation was conducted on the 237 college participants at a mid-size Midwestern University.

Major

Communication

First Advisor

Dr. Lisa Hanasono

First Advisor Department

Communication

Second Advisor

Dr. Kate Magsamen-Conrad

Second Advisor Department

Communication

Publication Date

Spring 4-22-2013

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