Features of Professional Self-Determination of High School Students

The article is dedicated to the issues of professional self-determination of school students and the importance of career guidance work in the educational process. It examines the theoretical aspects and practical approaches to organizing career guidance in schools, aimed at supporting students in making informed decisions about their future profession. Existing methodologies and trends in this area are analyzed, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach that takes into account the individual characteristics and interests of each student. The significance of career guidance activities in developing personal responsibility, confidence, and satisfaction with the chosen professional path is substantiated. Recommendations are provided for improving the quality of career guidance, including involving specialists, developing modern methods and techniques, and creating conditions for active interaction between students and various professional fields. Effective career guidance contributes to the formation of a stable interest in professional activities. The research was conducted based on municipal educational institutions in the city of Nizhny Novgorod. The study involved 10th-grade students, with a total of 89 participants aged 16–17. Professional self-determination of high school students is recognized as a key stage in personality development. The authors note that although studying in specialized classes provides high school students with the opportunity for in-depth study of their chosen direction and supports conscious choice of future profession, comprehensive career guidance work must be conducted throughout the entire school. This is due to the fact that students in specialized classes typically demonstrate a higher level of professional self-determination, characterized by readiness to choose a profession, a striving for success, and a formed professional identity. According to the results of our research, the most popular area among high school students turned out to be information technology, which indicates a strong interest among high school students in the production sphere, practical skills, and self-directed activities, regardless of their field of study.