Career Compromise Types Among University Graduates During the School-to-Work Transition

Because of high youth unemployment caused by structural conditions, South Korean university graduates must compromise their employment preferences and instead accept whatever work is available. In this study, we classified the types of compromises using latent profile analysis to examine various factors involved in the career compromise of 472 recent university graduates during their school-to-work transition. We identified four types of compromise patterns with distinct characteristics and discovered that the university graduates who did not compromise their interest and aptitude in their job selection showed a higher level of commitment to their career compared with those who compromised. Results suggest that individuals who do not compromise their interests and aptitudes are more likely to have successful and fulfilling long-term careers.