DOI: 10.53487/atasobed.1921258 ISSN: 2822-3160

Evaluation of Vocational School Students’ Employment Plans in the Context of the Education–Employment Relationship

Elvan Gökçen, Esra Nur Akpınar
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The aim of this study is to determine the views of Vocational School students regarding employment planning and to analyze these views in the context of the education–employment relationship and various demographic variables. Method: The study was conducted using the survey model, and the study population consisted of first- and second-year students studying at the Vocational Schools within Harran University during the 2025–2026 academic year. The sample consisted of a total of 642 students determined through convenience sampling. The data were collected through a questionnaire developed by the researchers and analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques, including percentages, frequencies, and the Chi-square test. Findings: The vast majority of the participating Vocational School students are aware of preparing an employment plan as a prerequisite for finding a suitable job after graduation. However, very few of these students have prepared a CV, which is the most concrete indicator of employment planning. While the employment preferences of the participating students are concentrated on working in the public sector, they remain pessimistic and undecided about employment options other than this. The participating students receive support from workplace internships, their families, field-specific courses, and instructors regarding planning their employment after graduation; they receive partial support from elective courses and their social environment, while they do not receive support from the school's career counseling unit or social media. As a result, it can be predicted that the profile of Vocational School students who insist on working in the public sector, are not open to options other than this, and do not receive the necessary support for employment planning during the educational process carries the risk of hindering their transition from education to employment.

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