The Relevance of Vocational Choice Theories to Students Career Insights and Choices

Career is the primary objective in the process of education, especially in vocational education. This study analyzed the extent to which vocational choice theories relevant to the career choices and career insights of Vocational High School (VHS) students in Yogyakarta regency in 2016. This study was designed with a survey approach to examine the Vocational High School students' career insight at Yogyakarta regency. This study was categorized as ex-post facto with three variables namely vocational choices, career insight and career choice of the VHS students. The population of this study were VHS students in Yogyakarta regency while the samples were selected using purposive random sampling. It consisted of 20 students from 10 VHS in Yogyakarta regency, so the total of the sample is 200 students. The instrument to collect the data were questionnaires. The data analysis was conducted using descriptive and correlational analysis to assess the relationships between the variables. The results show that vocational choice theories which are still relevant to the student's career choices are a theory of nature and factors, psychodynamic theory, the theory of economic, socio-cultural theory, and theory of development. In relation with the student's career insight, the analysis of the students' career insights proves that the students generally have intentional plan to enter vocational education prompted by their personal motives and family supports according to their interests, talents, desires and aspirations oriented to large incomes and prospective careers and employment. More concrete evidence also indicates a significant and positive correlation between career insights and career choices. It suggests the importance of career guidance and counselling in preparing the students' future careers to adapt the demands of the recent labour market.