What student workers need to thrive: a career resource needs assessment

Purpose The expansion of higher education occurs through a greater diversification of incoming students, for example, older and workers students. This study aims to examine the career resources of working students and to identify possible distinct career resource profiles, in order to inform the design of a distance psychoeducational career intervention. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 237 working students completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Career Resources Questionnaire. Findings The results indicated high levels of career clarity and low institutional support among student-workers. Four distinct career resource profiles emerged among student-workers: balanced career resources, high identity resources with moderate remaining resources, low career resources, and high career resources, highlighting the need for differentiated career support practices in higher education. Originality/value Four distinct career resource profiles emerged, with clear implications for vocational psychology research and for the development of targeted career support practices in higher education.