Transition from university to work: The perspective of speech-language-hearing students

Purpose:  to investigate the transition from university to work and career development among speech-language-hearing pathologists.

Methods:  an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study, with a non-probabilistic convenience sample. The 34 selected volunteers were in the last term of their speech-language-hearing program at a public university. The validated instruments (Career Development Scale for University Students, Self-Efficacy Scale in the Transition to Work, and the Professional Opportunities Perception Scale) were made available in digital format via Google Forms^®. The responses were tabulated in a spreadsheet to analyze the data, descriptively.

Results:  the analyses revealed a disadvantage in professional identity, affecting motivation and satisfaction. Career decision-making presents above-average results, impacting the clarity of objectives. The locus of professional control emphasizes success linked to personal effort. Self-efficacy is moderate, reflecting confidence in professional performance. Expanded career exploration indicates concern and proactivity. The perception of opportunities was moderately negative.

Conclusion:  this research investigated the transition from university to work in speech-language-hearing therapy and revealed pessimism regarding motivation and insertion in the job market, and self-confidence in relation to self-efficacy at work and the search for improved career development.

Keywords:
Universities; Career Mobility; Job Market; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences