An Analysis of the Effects of Field Experiences on Career Decision-making and Job-seeking Activities of University Student

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of Field experiences of university students on career decision-making and job-seeking activities. To achieve this, data from the 3rd to 6th year of the Korean Education and Employment Panel II were utilized, and logistic regression analysis with propensity score matching was conducted to alleviate the problem of selection bias. The main findings are as follows. First, students who participated in field experiences showed a higher probability of engaging in career decision-making and job-seeking activities compared to those who did not participate. Second, participation in long-term field experiences exceeding 16 weeks was found to have no significant effect on career decision-making and job-seeking activities. In other words, there was no significant difference in career decision-making and job-seeking activities between students who participated in field experiences for more than 16 weeks and those who participated for 16 weeks or less. To effectively support career preparation and enhance employment capabilities for university students, policy improvements are needed. This includes both qualitative enhancements and appropriate training periods. Additionally, field training should be expanded quantitatively. Follow-up studies are also necessary to analyze the long-term effects of various majors and training periods.