Career Research Findings

A public relations firm working on behalf of the Graphic Arts Education & Research Foundation, conducted research on how students make career decisions. In mid 1999, they conducted nationwide telephone survey of 1,000 teenagers and four focus groups with young people and career influences (parents, teachers, counselors).

Highlights of the research findings included:

• Respondents ranked job satisfaction over salary in a career.
• Respondents' career decisions are influenced most strongly by parents, teachers, friends and counselors.
• Preferred sources of information about careers are hands-on opportunities such as job shadowing, internships/apprenticeships and plant visits; career fairs, and in-school programs and information. The Internet is used for research, but not considered as trustworthy as printed information.
• Respondents want career information to be attractive visually, speak in their language, show people working together in multicultural groups and provide information on job opportunities and salaries.
• Respondents are unfamiliar with the printing and graphic communications industry, and most are unaware of the career opportunities it offers.