Effectiveness of a counselling programme based on Holland’s theory in increasing career decision-making certainty among a group of ninth-grade students in Jerusalem

This study examines the preliminary effects of a counselling programme based on Holland’s theory in enhancing career decision-making certainty among ninth-grade students in Jerusalem. Unlike previous studies that focused on older students, the current intervention targets students at an earlier developmental stage. The sample included 20 female ninth-graders with low certainty scores, divided into control and experimental groups (n = 10 each). A mixed-method design was used, with a scale administered pre-, post-, and two months after the program. The experimental group showed statistically significant improvement relative to the control group, and scores were maintained at follow-up. Follow-up interviews provided convergent indications of perceived benefits. These findings indicate the potential value of early school-based career counselling. Given the small, female-only sample from a single setting, the results should be interpreted cautiously; further research with larger, more diverse samples is needed to test effectiveness and inform school-based implementation.