Influence of Mentors’ Advice on Career Adaptability of Public Secondary School Students in Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to establish the influence of mentors’ advice on career adaptability of public secondary schools in Kiambu, Kenya. The sample comprised of 1230 students selected through simple random sampling from 30 sampled schools that were selected through stratified random sampling. In addition, 30 guidance and counseling teachers selected through purposive sampling participated in the study, one in each school. Data was collected using three instruments namely: student questionnaires; students focus discussion guide and interview guide for guidance and counseling teachers. The data was analyzed through both descriptive and inferential analysis. The main inferential analysis used was simple linear regression analysis that provided the correlation coefficient (r), the coefficient of determination squared (R²) and the F-Ratio (ANOVA). The findings of the study revealed that mentors’ advice had a positive and statistically significant influence on career adaptability and its four dimensions of career concern, career control, career curiosity and career confidence. Further findings revealed that mentors’ advice accounted for a significant proportion of the variance observed in career adaptability and its four dimensions of concern, control, curiosity and confidence. The study therefore concluded that all activities comprising mentors’ advice and role modeling significantly contributed to an increase in career adaptability and its dimensions at home, school and community settings, thereby improving their ability to make informed choices.