Analysis of influencing factors of subjective career unsuccessfulness of vocational college graduates from the Department of Navigation in China

Abstract

The marine talent cultivation and output in higher vocational colleges is an important support to build a strong maritime country and ensure the steady development of the shipping business industry. Vocational colleges should ensure effective career preparation and career guidance education for their students, and train them to acquire the professional abilities to work and adapt effectively and quickly in the future. Some studies show that many crew members experience a decline in job satisfaction, a low sense of achievement, and a series of negative subjective career feelings. Even more, some crew members have poor work performance or unsuccessful career development behaviors such as career change or resignation. This study examined the causes and influencing factors of these circumstances and might be a reference for schools to strengthen the quality of their training programs in the future. In-depth interviews with 12 vocational marine navigation college graduates were conducted, and grounded theory was used to code and analyze the collected interview information. Four types of influencing factors were identified: adaptation preparation, career adaptability, adaptation action, and the situational factor. The adaptation preparation factor could be categorized into psychology, determination, lack of certificates, and simple work; the career adaptability factor could be categorized into boring work, busyness, a big gap between expectations and reality, danger, promotion difficulty, poor interpersonal relationships, high pressure, and maladaptation to the surroundings; the adaptation action factor could be categorized into passive fatigue, lack of training, competition, confidence, and planning; while the situational factor could be categorized into the impact of the epidemic, low social status, lack of support from family, and advantages of living on land. To help the marine navigation students better adapt to their jobs and avoid subjective career unsuccessfulness, higher vocational colleges need to strengthen students’ mental health education, consolidate knowledge and skills training, encourage students to obtain more vocational competency certificates, enhance their interpersonal communication skills, do effective career planning, pay attention to physical exercise and safety awareness training, and adopt other career management and counseling suggestions.

Integration of Shangshan culture into the STEAM curriculum and teaching: results of an interview-based study

“…First, written consent was obtained from the respondents, and the interviews were recorded using notes and audio recordings, ensuring that the information obtained was accurate. Immediately after the interviews, the respondents’ comments and opinions were sorted, and the responses that were consistent with the research topic were screened through a review form to establish authenticity and dependability ( Wang et al, 2022 ). Furthermore, while reviewing the data in cooperation with a supervising professor to clarify the concepts and ensure the correctness and reliability of the analysis, three colleagues majoring in art and a part-time teacher from a company were invited to assist in data review and feedback because triangulation can avoid biases and distortions in data analysis caused by personal emotions or opinions.…”

Narrative Study on Successful Career Transition Based on Experiences of Chinese Vocational College Maritime Students

“…Personal factors refer to personal learning experience, work experience, age, marital status, professional title, etc. (Eccles & Wigfield , 2020;Wang et al, 2022). Environmental factors may include the working environment and social environment on board the ship, such as the communication atmosphere between colleagues, the cooperation situation, and the impact of the rapid development of an external situation on the crew (Wang et al, 2022).…”

“…(Eccles & Wigfield , 2020;Wang et al, 2022). Environmental factors may include the working environment and social environment on board the ship, such as the communication atmosphere between colleagues, the cooperation situation, and the impact of the rapid development of an external situation on the crew (Wang et al, 2022). The working conditions and quality of the crew also largely reflect their quality of life.…”

Assessing the Relationship between Prosocial Behavior and Well-Being: Basic Psychological Need as the Mediator

“…Research has demonstrated that students with higher levels of WB tend to exhibit better academic achievements, higher motivation, and improved overall adjustment [10]. Particularly in vocational education, where students are preparing for distinct careers, prosocial behavior holds implications for their future professional interactions and community contributions [11,12]. Consequently, understanding the factors contributing to WB, such as prosocial behavior, is paramount for educational psychologists and practitioners striving to create supportive learning environments and enhance students' educational experiences.…”