The relationship between personality, self-esteem, and career decision making among university students in Malaysia

Abstract

This research aims to explore the predictors of career decision-making among students in a private university in Malaysia, focusing on personality and self-esteem. Personality refers to the unique characteristics of an individual that influence their conduct and social interactions. It has long been recognized as a major factor in determining job decisions. And strong self-worth and confidence, or self-esteem, are necessary for making decisions. Prior studies have highlighted the impact of personality on decision-making, this research delves into the less-explored realm of self-esteem's influence on career decision making. Employing a quantitative research design, data from 150 respondents was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study utilized three research instruments: Holland’s Code Test (1970s), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965), and Career Decision Scale (third revision: 1976). The analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between personality traits and career decision-making (r = .22, p = .007), whereas no significant correlation was found between self-esteem and career decision-making (r = .08, p = .326). Additionally, gender did not significantly influence career decision-making among the students (p>.05). These findings suggest that while personality traits are influential in shaping career decisions, self-esteem may not play a significant role. Furthermore, gender differences do not appear to impact career decision-making within this cohort.