Career Guidance Activities and Career Self-Direction among Students at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance: The Mediating Role of Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy

Abstract:

This study examines how university career guidance activities are associated with students’ career self-direction, with career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) serving as a mediating mechanism. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was conducted at Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF), a private university in Vietnam. The qualitative phase involved 15 interviews to refine the activity groupings and measurement instruments and to support interpretation of the quantitative findings. The quantitative phase incoporate PLS-SEM using 525 valid responses from third- and fourth-year students. CDMSE was in positive association with career self-direction (β = .579, p < .001). Of the eight career guidance activity groups, only workshops/seminars and career clubs indicated significant positive associations with CDMSE and significant indirect associations with career self-direction through CDMSE. Career information repositories, coaching/mentoring, field trips, career fairs, internships/practicums, and hackathons/professional competitions were not statistically significant. The findings suggest that universities should prioritize the developmental quality of career guidance by incorporating structured reflection, repeated engagement, and continuous feedback into program design and implementation.