Abstract
Although there is a high demand of highly educated professionals in the technical
sector, only about 50% of the graduates from a study program in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM) opt for a career in the technical sector.
Professional identity has been shown to influence students’ career choice. STEM
students whose professional identity is more in line with their future profession are
more likely to commit to a career in the technical sector. At the same time, stereotyping
can lead less prototypical students to leave the technical sector. However, little is
known about the diversity in STEM students’ professional identity and how this is
related to their career choices. Based on a survey-study among 743 STEM-students,
we developed five profiles of STEM students’ professional identity called the nerd, the
status seeker, the hipster, the security seeker and the loner. These profiles were
significantly related to the strength of identification with their future profession and
intended career choice. Results indicate that while there is much variation between
STEM students’ professional identity, more stereotypical, male students are still more
likely to aim for a career within the technical field.
sector, only about 50% of the graduates from a study program in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM) opt for a career in the technical sector.
Professional identity has been shown to influence students’ career choice. STEM
students whose professional identity is more in line with their future profession are
more likely to commit to a career in the technical sector. At the same time, stereotyping
can lead less prototypical students to leave the technical sector. However, little is
known about the diversity in STEM students’ professional identity and how this is
related to their career choices. Based on a survey-study among 743 STEM-students,
we developed five profiles of STEM students’ professional identity called the nerd, the
status seeker, the hipster, the security seeker and the loner. These profiles were
significantly related to the strength of identification with their future profession and
intended career choice. Results indicate that while there is much variation between
STEM students’ professional identity, more stereotypical, male students are still more
likely to aim for a career within the technical field.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of the 45th SEFI Conference |
| Editors | J.C. Quadrado, J. Bernardino, J. Rocha |
| Place of Publication | Portugal |
| Pages | 1069-1976 |
| Number of pages | 1076 |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
Keywords
- STEM students
- professional identity
- career choice
- career commitment