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The evolution of work values during the school-to-work transition: the case of young adults in the “missing middle”

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Abstract

Adopting a mixed method design, this paper explores the configuration and evolution of work values of 64 young adults in transition from education to employment. Qualitative analyses point out the existence of four categories of work values: interesting tasks, good relationships, self-fulfillment, and attractive work conditions. Quantitative analyses show that work values are questioned during the school-to-work transition, refined according to the experience of labor market integration, and partially different according to gender, education type, and the quality of the integration process. Consequently, career counseling should integrate a deeper understanding of what clients consider as important in their work lives.

Résumé

L’évolution des valeurs professionnelles au cours de la transition école-emploi: Le cas de jeunes adultes ni en formation, ni en emploi. A l’aide d'une méthodologie mixte, cet article explore la configuration et l’évolution des valeurs de travail de 64 jeunes adultes en transition de la formation à l’emploi. Des analyses qualitatives mettent en avant l’existence de quatre catégories de valeurs de travail: Des tâches intéressantes, des relations agréables, l’épanouissement personnel, et des conditions de travail attractives. Les analyses quantitatives, quant à elles, montrent que les valeurs de travail sont questionnées durant la transition école-emploi, affinées en fonction de l’expérience de l’insertion professionnelle, et partiellement différentes en fonction du genre, du type de formation, et de la qualité du processus d’insertion. En conséquence, le conseil en orientation devrait intégrer une compréhension plus approfondie de ce que les clients considèrent comme important dans leurs vies professionnelles.

Zusammenfassung

Die Entwicklung von beruflichen Werthaltungen während des Übergangs von der Schule zur Arbeit: Der Fall junger Erwachsender. Dieser Artikel erforscht die Konfiguration und Entwicklung von beruflichen Werthaltungen von jungen Erwachsenen beim Übergang vom Ausbildungs- in das Arbeitsverhältnis mittels einer Anpassung eines gemischten Methodendesigns. Qualitative Analysen wiesen auf die Existenz von vier Kategorien von beruflichen Werten hin: interessante Aufgabe, gute Beziehungen, Selbstverwirklichung und attraktive Arbeitsbedingungen. Quantitative Analysen zeigten das berufliche Werte während des Übergangs von der Schule in die Arbeitswelt in Frage gestellt werden. Durch die Erfahrungen der Arbeitsmarktintegration werden die Werte weiterentwickelt. Diese unterschieden sich teilweise nach Geschlecht, Bildungstyp und die Qualität des Integrationsprozesses. Infolgedessen sollte Karriereberatung ein tieferes Verständnis für die Dinge entwickeln, die für Klienten in ihrem Arbeitsleben wichtig sind.

Resumen

La evolución de los valores de trabajo durante la transición de la escuela al trabajo: el caso de los jóvenes en el “intermedio”. Mediante la adopción de un método de diseño mixto, este artículo explora la configuración y evolución de los valores de trabajo de 64 jóvenes en la transición de la etapa educativa al empleo. Los análisis cualitativos señalan la existencia de cuatro categorías de valores de trabajo: tareas interesantes, buenas relaciones, la autorrealización, y las condiciones de trabajo atractivas. Los análisis cuantitativos muestran que los valores del trabajo son cuestionados durante la transición de la escuela al trabajo, refinados de acuerdo con la experiencia de la integración en el mercado laboral, y son en parte diferentes dependiendo del sexo, el tipo de educación, y la calidad del proceso de integración. En consecuencia, la orientación profesional debería abordar una comprensión más profunda de qué es para los usuarios, lo más importante en su vida laboral.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The authors would like to thank the participants, the participating schools, and the members of the research team who worked on the transcriptions and the coding procedure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département des fondements et pratiques en éducation, Centre de recherche et d’intervention sur l’éducation et la vie au travail (CRIEVAT), Université Laval, 2320, rue des Bibliothèques, Quebec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada

    Jonas Masdonati, Geneviève Fournier, Mathieu Pinault & Imane Z. Lahrizi

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  1. Jonas Masdonati
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  2. Geneviève Fournier
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  3. Mathieu Pinault
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  4. Imane Z. Lahrizi
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Correspondence to Jonas Masdonati.

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Masdonati, J., Fournier, G., Pinault, M. et al. The evolution of work values during the school-to-work transition: the case of young adults in the “missing middle”. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 16, 189–212 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-015-9300-z

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