50% of Students Influenced by Friends & Family When Choosing Career | AllAboutCareers
Over half of 1500 first-year undergraduates admitted they became interested in a particular career through somebody they knew.
The survey found that students’ friends and family are a major influence on career choices. Of the 51% that admitted being influenced by people close to them, 17% said they were influenced by family members, whilst 34% had been influenced by their friends.
However, there were differences between state and privately educated responses. 54% of state-educated first-years said they didn’t know any friends of family members who had sparked their interest in a particular career. This is compared to 41% of privately-educated students.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, two-thirds of survey respondents said they received practical help and advice from friends and family when applying for internships or jobs.
The research also found there to be differences between male and female first-years, with male first-years more likely to use personal networks for career purposes than women (55% versus 49% respectively).
Chris Phillips, Research Director at GTI Media said, “The influence of friends and family is clearly a significant factor in helping students choose careers but question marks surely remain over the objectivity and accuracy of the advice being offered."
Over half of 1500 first-year undergraduates admitted they became interested in a particular career through somebody they knew.
The survey found that students’ friends and family are a major influence on career choices. Of the 51% that admitted being influenced by people close to them, 17% said they were influenced by family members, whilst 34% had been influenced by their friends.
However, there were differences between state and privately educated responses. 54% of state-educated first-years said they didn’t know any friends of family members who had sparked their interest in a particular career. This is compared to 41% of privately-educated students.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, two-thirds of survey respondents said they received practical help and advice from friends and family when applying for internships or jobs.
The research also found there to be differences between male and female first-years, with male first-years more likely to use personal networks for career purposes than women (55% versus 49% respectively).
Chris Phillips, Research Director at GTI Media said, “The influence of friends and family is clearly a significant factor in helping students choose careers but question marks surely remain over the objectivity and accuracy of the advice being offered."
