Influence of Parents on One's Career Path

Submitted by:

Lakshay Mehta - 102217121

Yashika Aggarwal - 102217123
Bhavya Manchanda - 102217125

Under the guidance of:

Ms. Mukta Garg
(School of Humanities and Social Science)
 COPYRIGHT NOTICE

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 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

Date: 25th April, 2023

Respected Ma’am,

This is to inform you that we have prepared a report on the topic “Influence of Parents on One's
Career Path” and now we are submitting the same to you.

This report is all about the interaction of people and understanding their thoughts regarding their
career choices.
Through this report and survey conducted, we tried to get an insight to people’s point of view in
context to Influence of Parents on One's Career Path.

Yours Sincerely,
Lakshay Mehta - 102217121
Yashika Aggarwal - 102217123
Bhavya Manchanda - 102217125
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Report titled “Influence of Parents on One's Career Path” embodies the
original work done by students of Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Batch 2022.
Lakshay Mehta - 102217121
Yashika Aggarwal - 102217123
Bhavya Manchanda - 102217125

Under the Supervision of Ms. Mukta Garg

Date: 25th April, 2023

Place: Patiala
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

sincere gratitude and profound veneration to our research Supervisor Ms. Mukta Garg for providing
her invaluable guidance, comments and suggestions throughout the course of the Report and also
allowing us to work on the topic “Influence of Parents on One's Career Path”. She has been of great
help in our venture, and an indispensable resource of technical knowledge. She is truly an amazing
mentor to have.

We are also thankful to entire faculty and staff of School of Humanities & Social Sciences, and also
our friends who devoted their valuable time and helped us in all possible ways towards successful
completion of this Report. We thank all those who have contributed either directly or indirectly
towards this Report.

Above all, we would also like to thank the almighty and our families for their unyielding love and
encouragement. They always wanted the best for us and we admire their determination and sacrifice.

Lakshay Mehta - 102217121

Yashika Aggarwal - 102217123
Bhavya Manchanda - 102217125
 ABSTRAC
T

The early years of a person's education are one of the crucial steps to success in life. One of the most
crucial choices is deciding the stream one is interested in and wants to pursue. As we all know, a
number of factors, including advice from professors, family experiences, advice from seniors,
current academic achievement, etc., have a significant impact on these selections. Then there are
career counsellors and consulting companies, which provide some insights into every area and some
understanding of the advantages and disadvantages, potential future growth, and other
considerations.

Our report's main objective is to find out if the mentality of people regarding the effect of one’s
family on choice of career has changed from the past or not. Our research focuses on finding out
what different age groups in India's North-Eastern area think about this issue. The conclusion of this
report should also lean towards the unbiased side, namely that family has very little or almost no
influence on a person's choices, whether they be in the field of education or any other life decision.
One can argue that opinions of people on various topics have changed over time and with
advancements in information available to everyone.

Using Google Forms, this initiative performs a survey across various age groups in the North-
Eastern parts of India. The tool itself aids in the visual representation of the data for each survey
question that support the biases while choosing a career. The majority of people continue to think
that their family, their expectations, and their experience have an impact on the decisions they
make.
 TABLE OF CONTENT

0. Title Page

1. Copyright Notice

2. Letter of Transmittal

3. Certificate

4. Acknowledgements

5. Abstract

6. List of illustrations

7. Introduction

8. Literature review

9. Objectives

10.Methodology

11.Results and discussion

12.Conclusion

13.Recommendations

14.References

15.Appendix

6. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 4.1: Pie chart about gender ratio of participants 15

Figure 4.2: Pie chart about gender ratio sub division 15

Figure 4.3: Pie chart about mind set of participants 16

Figure 4.4: Pie chart about field of work of participants 16

Figure 4.5: Pie chart about marks being basis of career choice 17

Figure 4.6: Pie chart about Parents stats of Fig.5.6 17

Figure 4.7: Pie chart about Students stats of Fig.5.6 17

Figure 4.8: Pie chart about parent’s influence of career choice 17

Figure 4.9: Bar graph about influence of parents on career choice 18

Figure 4.10: Bar chart about Parents stats of Fig.5.10 18

Figure 4.11: Bar chart about Students stats of Fig.5.10 18

Figure 4.12: Pie chart about career based on gender 19

Figure 4.13: Pie chart about Parents stats of Fig.5.13 19

Figure 4.14: Pie chart about Students stats of Fig.5.13 19

Figure 4.15: Pie chart about Most popular stream in India 19

Figure 4.16: Bar chart about Med and Non Med, myth or not 20

Figure 4.17: Pie chart about Career based on socio economic status 20

Figure 4.18: Pie chart about Parents stats of Fig.5.18 20

Figure 4.19: Pie chart about Students stats of Fig.5.18 20

Figure 4.20: Pie chart about Career based on money or passion 21

Figure 4.21: Pie chart about Parents stats of Fig.5.21 21

Figure 4.22: Pie chart about Students stats of Fig.5.22 21

7. INTRODUCTION

In terms of social and aesthetic characteristics, India is a distinctly different nation where
social morality, values of collaboration, and respect for elders are important considerations in
any household. When picking a job, Indians are more inclined to take their family's hopes
and accomplishments into account, particularly if the occupation would elevate their social
position and bring honour to their family. Parents are children's main educators and
important practitioners of knowledge about the outside world. It's sometimes assumed that
students can identify their strengths and know how to incorporate them into picking a job,
but that assumption isn't totally accurate. As a result, when making a decision, one has not
considered all available possibilities. Adolescents frequently use their familial environment,
morals, and values as a point of reference while developing their careers. Indian parents
sometimes implicitly pass along their ideals on careers to their children and direct their
future choices in accordance with their beliefs.

The purpose of this study is to enquire into and have a deeper understanding of how one's
family influences their decision regarding their job path. A family might have a positive or
negative direct or lateral influence on their child's professional choice. The main causes of
 this include their present and projected socioeconomic circumstances, level of education,
genetic makeup, and conventional family structure. The responsibility of attending council
meetings or earning a professional degree is lessened by being born to parents with low
levels of education and money.

The support and comfort of an educated and enduring family is better for the adults. Most
Indian students pursue higher education just for their parents' happiness since they are of the
opinion that major career sectors like medicine and science provide solid and permanent
employment. These students frequently enrol in sodalities with the expectation that time will
pass and they would be able to decide and secure their future. As a result, many students
waste time, money, and effort while having second thoughts about what to expect from life.

8. LITERATURE REVIEW

∙ The impact of family influence on the career choice of adolescents

(According to Ramona Paloş, Loredana Drobot)

This papers objective was to pinpoint specific aspects of the family environment that affect
teenage decision-making regarding a future job. 60 students from the last high school class
made up the sample. The results provide us with a picture of the factors that impact the process
of choosing a job, as well as how vocational counselling and the counselor's position are seen
in schools.
The very small number of participants in our study compels us to use caution when generalising
findings, and it forces us to extend the scope of the study and the factors we are considering.
However, the assessment was conducted in a setting with a counsellor and a tradition of
academic and career counselling, emphasising the importance of the family in the development
of the child's career. The conclusions we came at about the family's engagement in the
adolescent's job decision may not reflect reality because the situation is not the same in all
schools across the nation.
 For a person's professional trajectory, choosing a career is a critical choice. The child's
decisions are modelled by familial factors since the decision-making process begins relatively
early. In contrast to the father, the mother takes a more active role in career-related planning,
starting practical initiatives and providing psychosocial support. Affectionate, tolerant,
stimulating, and performance-oriented parents are more engaged in their kids' career growth.
Additionally, kids who feel secure are more receptive to mentoring and career exploration.
We set out to document the impacts the professor has on decisions about one's future job and
the function of the school-family-community collaboration starting with the findings of this
exploratory study.
Additionally, we want to start a pilot programme for counselling students in their final two
years of high school and monitoring them in their first year of university studies to see how
well they are adjusting to the academic environment. This will take place at the school where
we are conducting our research.

Parental influence and career choice: How parents affect the career
aspirations of their children
(According to Jungen, Kristen Anne)
Following a study of the literature, it was found that there are several ways in which parents
might influence their children's job choices. These pathways include gender socialisation,
family values and expectations, and parent-child relationships. The four basic theories of career
development contained many of these characteristics. According to Ginzberg's (1988) view,
children initially intended to pursue the profession of their parents but were eventually
compelled to make a trade-off between those interests and what was accessible to them in their
surroundings. The notion put out by Havighurst in 1964 also hinted to how kids tend to identify
with an adult who is close to them, such a father. According to Roe (1957), parenting
approaches have the biggest impact on a child's profession decision, especially when it comes
to choosing a person oriented vocation. She subsequently came to the conclusion that the most
important component was a child's bond to their parent. The most thorough hypothesis was that
of Gottfredson (1981), who identified seven key factors that affect a child's profession
decision. Gender and values were two of these seven factors. Throughout the literature study,
 several research papers showed how parental expectations and values impact their kids'
professional choices. Teenagers were shown to share their parents' opinions on important
matters and even to reject some job alternatives if their parents didn't approve. Contrary to
common assumption, adolescence is not a period for rebellion, especially against parental
authority. Defiance was not covered, but it was advised that parents give their kids space to
explore their identities and how they align with their job goals. Gender socialisation was
another aspect that was covered. Although it wasn't explicitly mentioned, research seemed to
indicate that this had a negative impact on a child's decision to explore careers. According to
studies, moms in particular teach their children to believe that men and women play different
roles in society. According to the literature, children's profession choices may be influenced by
parental contact, perceived power dynamics, and parent interaction between sons and
daughters.

Parental Influence on Career Choice Traditionalism among College

Students in Selected Cities in Ethiopia
(According to Sella Kumar)
The study investigated the effect of parents on college students' profession choices at selected
private institutions in and around Bahirdar City, Ethiopia. A suitable career is an important
aspect of any student's life. It also sparks a person's future existence for his or her own work
preference and living style. In this environment, the impact of social members is unavoidable;
in general, family members, particularly parents, play a significant role as an influencer and
determiner of profession choice. Students in Ethiopia are not immune to the phenomena of
choosing the proper and fit job. To select participants, a cross-sectional survey design and a
multi-stage sampling approach were used.
There is parental impact on students' job decisions, and there is also an interrelationship
between father preference and mother preference; father preference and mother occupation;
father's occupation and mother's occupation; father's occupation and career; and mother's
 occupation and career. Students' autonomy in determining professional decisions is limited to
parental preferences, and this conclusion is limited to the current research region.
However, data from other research show that students in rich nations are far better at choosing
career decisions on their own than those in developing and underdeveloped countries. This
might be due to cultural influences, exposure to multimedia, access to technology
advancement, peer group members, and important others. Furthermore, a thorough analysis
may aid future academics in solving such an issue and producing strong theoretical and
empirical evidence for counselling and guiding activities as well as policy development.

∙ Career decision making of Greek post-secondary vocational students: The

impact of parents and career decision making self efficacy

(According to Pappas, Theofanis Stavros, and Kalliope Kounenou)
Results showed a statistically significant correlation between mother's education level and
career decision self-efficacy. More analysis is needed because there isn't any previous research
on how parental educational level affects self efficacy in making professional decisions.
According to previous research literature, the study found a significant relationship between
parental influence and job decision-making (Kniveton, 2004). Additionally, it showed that
mothers had more influence than fathers.

This is consistent with earlier research (Otto, 2000). However, Poulter (2006) discovered that
fathers had a bigger influence on their kids' professional decisions. There was no discernible
connection between parental influence and gender. Additionally, the female students were more
influenced by both parents than the male students were. These results are in line with earlier
research findings (Jacobs et al., 2006). Students in the sample believed that their capacity to
make career decisions was more influenced by their father's education level than by their
mother.

∙ The Influence of Family Background on Career Choice among

Undergraduate Students in Tanzania
(According to Amani, Jacqueline, and Kitila AK Mkumbo)
Several variables impact young people's job decisions in various circumstances. This qualitative
study looked into how family background influences university students' job decisions.
Undergraduate students from four institutions enrolling in four degree programmes leading to
certain professions, notably teaching, law, business, and engineering, were among the
participants. Eighty-eight students took part in a series of focus group conversations about why
they chose the programmes they did and how their family history affected their decision.
Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings indicate that family influences
undergraduate students' job choices significantly. The impact was more strong among
households with a greater level of education, beginning with secondary school. In general, kids
pick careers that are similar to those of their parents. The findings also reveal that biological
parents had a stronger effect on professional decisions than their relatives. Consistent with the
findings of earlier research in other situations, the study suggests that family history has a
significant influence on young people's profession choices. In general, parents are important
translators of information about the workplace and their children's talents. They are also seen as
farmers who raise their children, as each child is unique and requires various environmental
circumstances to reach his or her full potential. In this context, the parents' responsibility is to
give a range of vocational information and allow their children to find their skills while taking
their requirements, personality, and interests into consideration. However, their supporting role
in selecting and steering their children's future should be exercised with caution so that they do
not dictate their children's job choices. While most parents want the best for their children, they
should not crush their children's dreams. Their ambitions, it could be argued, should be geared
toward making children aware of the various occupations and roles in various lines of work,
rather than forcing them to pursue the career path of their choice.

9. OBJECTIVES

1. To explore and document the factors that influence adolescents' career choices,
particularly the role of family influence, parenting styles, and gender
socialization.
2. To identify gaps in the current research on the topic and suggest areas for further
investigation, such as the need for larger sample sizes and more diverse study
populations.
3. To propose and evaluate potential solutions to help students make informed
career choices, such as the implementation of career counseling programs and the
importance of promoting autonomy in decision-making.
4. To provide practical insights and recommendations for parents, educators, and
policymakers on how to support adolescents' career development and decision-
making.
 10. METHODOLOGY

The primary data was employed in this study's methodology, and after some analysis,
the same data were used to draw project conclusions. The research was conducted using
a questionnaire survey approach and was of a casual character. Students in the 11th and
12th grades as well as their parents will participate in this research initiative as
undergraduate students. Google Form was the tool utilised for data collecting. The
questionnaire is evaluated using the Likert scale, and software programmes like MS
Excel and Google Sheets are utilised to visualise the results.
To the best of our knowledge and comprehension, it has been assured that the data
received and evaluated is distinct and authentic. In addition, the necessary steps were
taken to make sure that none of the survey replies were fabricated or falsely recorded.
They had a hard time persuading individuals to take part in the poll. Team members'
persistent demands made via various social media channels helped them overcome this.
A different approach that may have been employed was to gather information by
speaking with them in person. This approach would have been time-consuming and
would have restricted our options.
The Google forms service's built-in capabilities (such as pie charts and bar graphs) were
utilised to analyse the data that was gathered. The tools automatically provide visual
representations so that the population's demographics are obvious.

11. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

 Fi

g 4.1

ig 4.2
 Fig 4.3
According to a study of the aforementioned data, it has been ensured that replies to our
survey have come from both parents and students, and that both groups have replied
approximately equally. With the bulk of replies coming from female parents, the belief that
"Moms are more concerned about their kid's education and in virtually all household
mothers are responsible for aiding the child in his or her education till high school" has been
confirmed to be true.

Fig 4.4
According to these results, teachers or government employees make up the majority of
respondents' fields of employment (47.4%). Students in their field make up 20%, and engineers
make up 21.5%. Doctors, CPAs, and businesspeople make up the remaining 11.1%. We may
deduce from this information that a variety of persons engaged in a wide range of professions
were introduced to this form.
 4.5
Fig Fig
4.4 4.6
Fig

The

most often cited claim, "A single piece of paper cannot determine one's destiny," is obviously
supported by the comments.
It is evident that the majority of parents and students share the stated viewpoint.
 Fig 4.7
Fig 4.8
The results unmistakably demonstrate that one's decision is not influenced by the professional
route taken by his or her parents (46.7% of respondents said no), and that one's interest in or

potential for advancement in a certain sector may influence that decision.

 Fig 4.9
Fig 4.10
Fig 4.11

Although some replies suggest that parents' occupations may have had some influence on
children's career decisions, whether that influence was favourable (child picked parent's
sector) or negative (chose any other field).

About 50% of the audience believes that parents have some sort of influence or impact on
their child's profession choice. This may be inferred from the fact that parents desire what is
best for their children and that their experience also plays a significant role in their
recommendations, which for a kid play a significant role in choosing the road that he or she
may take in the future.
 Fig 4.12

Fig 4.13

Fig 4.14

There was a time when people thought that some jobs were only suitable for men and others
were only suitable for women, but today's society places a greater emphasis on equality, and
this is evidenced by the fact that 50.4% of respondents think that both men and women can
perform any job, and the majority of parents and students believe that the career path
suggested by parents is gender-neutral.

Fig 4.15
 Fig
4.16
The majority of respondents—about 60%—believe that the non-medical stream is the most
popular. The misconception that the medical and non-medical areas are superior, however,
was widely held by the people, which surprised many considering the answer to the
preceding question.

Fig
4.17
Fig 4.18 Fig 4.19
 Fig 4.20

Fig
4.21
Fig
4.22

According to the answers to the previous question, parents and students are more likely to
choose careers that will have an impact on their socioeconomic standing (79.3%) and how
much money they can make from such careers (65.2%). The majority of individuals do not
prioritise a person's interest in their career or area.
 12. CONCLUSIONS

Parents are thought of as their children's closest and most significant mentors. The role of
parents is to provide a variety of career information and guidance, taking into account the
needs, personalities, and interests of the child, in order to help children discover their talents.
This is because every child is unique and requires a different environment in order to realise
their potential. Although most parents want the best for their kids, they shouldn't control their
professional choices or crush their aspirations, according to our community.

Students' replies indicated that other factors, such as their parents' socioeconomic level and
professional backgrounds, also have an impact. Parents have differing ideas on whether or not
students who perform well in a certain topic should continue working on this site. Career
attitudes and choices can be influenced by parents' opinions of their children's aptitudes,
interests, and particular expectations for their success.

According to this study, parental influence on pupils has both beneficial and negative impacts.
These include inadequate therapy, a refusal to engage with the child, students acting
uncooperatively, etc. The study examined a variety of data and came to the conclusion that
parents offer a more robust educational environment to support young people in building
confidence. Students have the final say in choosing their careers, making judgments they can
trust. Parents do not pressure their children to pursue a certain job route, despite the clear
influence.
 13. POLICIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Due to the fact that the majority of students choose non-medical degrees, this conclusion
and results are skewed from the perspective of the students (Engineering). The next stages
could involve including a wider, more diversified audience. Additionally, because they
are all from the Northeast, these comments are biassed in favour of that region. Additional
study may be done on variables other than parental influence that affect a person's
profession choice.
 14. REFERENCES

[1] Paloş, Ramona, and Loredana Drobot. "The impact of family influence on the career choice
of adolescents." Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 2.2 (2010): 3407-3411.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.524.

[2] Jungen, Kristen Anne. "Parental influence and career choice: How parents affect the career
aspirations of their children." (2008).

[3] Kumar, Sella. "Parental influence on career choice traditionalism among college students in
selected cities in Ethiopia." International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies 3.3
(2016): 23-30.

[4] Pappas, Theofanis Stavros, and Kalliope Kounenou. "Career decision making of Greek post
secondary vocational students: The impact of parents and career decision making selfefficacy."
Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 15 (2011): 3410-3414.

[5] Amani, Jacqueline, and Kitila AK Mkumbo. "The influence of family background on career
choice among undergraduate students in Tanzania." Papers in Education and Development 32
(2018)
 15. APPENDIX
Questionnaire:

We the students of Thapar University, Computer science and Engineering Branch are
conducting a research to find out what is the effect of family on the career choice of
an individual. We would like to hear your opinion on this matter. The survey should
only take 5 minutes, and your responses are completely anonymous and will only be
used for our research.

1. What is your gender?

○ Male
○ Female
○ Prefer not to say
○ Other
2. What is your highest level of degree?
○ High School Degree or Equivalent
○ Bachelor's Degree
○ Master's Degree
○ Doctorate
3. What is your viewpoint like while filling this form?
○ Student perspective
○ Parent/ Guardian perspective
4. What is your field of profession/ pursuing?
○ Engineer
○ Doctor
○ Business
○ CA
○ Student
○ Other
5. Do you believe grades should be used to determine a person's job choices?
○ Yes
○ No
○ Maybe
6. Has the profession of your parents influenced your career decisions? (select level)
○1
○2
○3
○4
○5
7. Has the profession of your parents influenced your career decisions?
○ Yes
○ No
○ Maybe
8. Are the parents' recommended careers gender-specific?
○ Yes
○ No
○ Maybe
9. Which do you think is the most sought-after profession in India?
○ Medical
○ Non-Medical
○ Commerce
○ Arts
○ Others
10. Do you think the medical and non-medical streams are superior? (At what level do
you agree?)
○1
○2
○3
○4
○5
11. Are parents' recommendations for careers impacted by socioeconomic
status? ○ Yes
○ No
12. Do parents recommend occupations based on the pay they offer or ones they are
passionate about?
○ Money-Mindedness
○ Passion