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Career guidance in India based on O*NET and cultural variables

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Abstract

The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) is the primary source of occupational information in the United States (US). In this study, I review O*NET’s usage for career guidance in India and conceive a career intervention based on it. In an empirical evaluation adopting a posttest-only experimental design with post-graduate management students (N = 220), effectiveness of the career intervention in reducing career decision-making difficulties is presented. An important cultural insight the study offers regarding occurrence of career decision-making difficulties, are the differences due to vertical–horizontal characteristics, apart from the more researched individualism–collectivism characteristics.

Résumé

L’orientation professionnelle en Inde basée sur O*NET et des variables culturelles. L’Occupational Information Network (O*NET) est la source première d’informations occupationnelles aux Etats-Unis (US). Dans cette étude, je passe en revue l’utilisation d’O*NET pour l’orientation professionnelle en Inde et conçoit une intervention de carrière sur cette base. Dans une évaluation empirique se basant uniquement sur une méthode de post-test avec des étudiants de 3ème cycle en management (N = 220), je présente l’efficacité de cette intervention de carrière dans la réduction des difficultés liées au choix. Selon cette étude, les différences observées sont dues aux caractéristiques verticales et horizontales, en plus des caractéristiques d’individualisme et de collectivisme mieux documentées. Cela offre une vision culturelle importante concernant les difficultés de choix de carrière.

Zusammenfassung

Laufbahnberatung in Indien basierend auf O*NET und kulturellen Variablen. Das Berufsinformationsnetzwerk (O*NET) ist die primäre Quelle für berufliche Informationen in den Vereinigten Staaten (USA). In dieser Studie überprüfe ich die Verwendung von O*NET für die Laufbahnberatung in Indien und leite daraus eine Intervention für die Laufbahnentwicklung ab. In einer empirischen Evaluationsstudie mit einem experimentellen posttest-only Design mit postgradualen Management-Studenten (N = 220) wird der Effekt der Intervention auf die Verringerung der Schwierigkeiten bei der beruflichen Entscheidungsfindung präsentiert. Eine wichtige kulturelle Erkenntnis im Zusammenhang mit dem Auftreten von Schwierigkeiten bei der beruflichen Entscheidungsfindung besteht darin, dass die Unterschiede abgesehen von der mehr erforschten Individualismus-Kollektivismus-Dimension auch aufgrund der Dimension vertikal-horizontal entstehen.

Resumen

Orientación profesional en la India basada en el O*NET y variables culturales. El Occupational Information Network (O*NET) es la fuente primaria de información en los Estados Unidos de América. En este estudio se revisa el uso del O*NET en la orientación profesional en la India y se concibe un plan de intervención profesional basado en el mismo. A continuación se presentan los resultados de una evaluación empírica utilizando un diseño experimental con post-test único aplicado a una muestra (N = 220) de estudiantes de postgrado de dirección de empresa sobre la eficacia de la orientación profesional en la reducción de las dificultades en la toma de decisiones profesionales. Finalmente, el estudio nos ofrece una importante concepción cultural en lo que se refiere a la incidencia de las dificultades en la toma de decisiones, que son debidas a las características vertical-horizontal, a parte de las características más investigadas del individualismo-colectivismo.

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  1. Decision Sciences, Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, Prabandh Nagar, IIM Road, Lucknow, UP, 226016, India

    Mohit Bhatnagar

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Bhatnagar, M. Career guidance in India based on O*NET and cultural variables. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 18, 81–99 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-017-9349-y

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