Decoding Career Choices: What Drives Undergraduates to Major in HRM?

The paper studies factors that affect students’ career decisions at the undergraduate level. The majors that have been taken under consideration in this study is Human Resources Management (HRM). The factors examined are Influencers (INL), Interests (INT), Financial Resources (FIN), Self-capacity (CAP), Career opportunities (OPP), and Personality (PER) and their effect on Students’ Career Choice (SCC). A survey was conducted using purposive sampling, and 225 bachelor’s students majoring in human resources management were selected. A structured questionnaire based on the 5-Likert Scale was used to collect the responses, and hypotheses were tested using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The research intends to determine the relationship of each variable concerning Students’ Career Choice (SCC) in Human Resources Management (HRM). It was discovered that FIN, CAP, and OPP positively affect SCC. In Pakistan, little emphasis is placed on identifying the mechanism behind career decision-making. The research aims to fill the gap and identify the career decision-making processes of students, especially in Pakistan. Many factors affect students’ career choices, but the study considered only a few based on a thorough literature review. In addition to this, the research sample was only undergraduate students, leaving behind graduates and postgraduates. Once the mechanism is clear on career decisions, the study’s findings can benefit educational bodies, policy-makers, parent(s), and students.