Students' ideas about life and professional success in relation to career orientations and life satisfaction

Introduction. Studying ideas about success among young people studying at a university can help identify their life goals, expectations, and values, which in turn will ensure more effective preparation of future specialists for professional activities. The purpose of the study was to identify ideas about professional and life success in relation to career orientations and life satisfaction among students. Materials and methods. The study, in which 111 students took part, was conducted at the University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (Russian Federation, St. Petersburg). Projective methods were used, including the method of unfinished sentences, the «Study of Career Orientations» test by E. Shein, the «Life Satisfaction» test (LS) by N.N. Melnikova. Methods of mathematical statistics: frequency analysis, cluster analysis (Ward's method), correlation analysis: Spearman correlation coefficient, factor analysis (Varimax method). Results. Data analysis showed that for students, success in life includes not only material, but also psychological well-being, as well as self-realization, recognition and the opportunity to help people. Professional success lies in social status, material wealth, professional competence, the presence of useful connections and the opportunity not to engage in work. Examples of life success for modern students are relatives (30%), professional success – representatives of the business sphere (34%). Students show a desire for self-realization, while wanting to maintain harmony between their personal life and career (r=0,26; p≤0,001). Respondents who attach great importance to social status tend to perceive their life as more harmonious (r=0,23; p≤0,01). Orientation towards «autonomy» (r=0,21; p≤0,01) and «entrepreneurship» (r=0,23; p≤0,01) increase life satisfaction. Conclusion. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of creating programs aimed at developing skills to achieve professional and personal well-being and helping students. Knowledge about the needs and expectations of future specialists will allow employers to create a motivating environment for comfortable cooperation and achieving goals.