YOUNG PEOPLE’S VISION OF PROFESSIONAL FUTURE – AUTHOR’S OWN RESEARCH ANALYSIS BY GENDER

Abstract

A vision of the future is an expression of strategic approach to life in relation to the organization as well as people. The ability to predict and manage oneself in the professional area is defined as career path planning. The objective of the article is to present and analyse the author’s own research on the identification of the state and determinants of career paths planned by young people by gender who live in Lower Silesia. The measurement was conducted by a company Ogólnopolski Panel Badawczy Sp. z o.o. [a limited liability company] using the nationwide survey panel Ariadna in June 2015. The research method was representative for a specific population, that is inhabitants of the voivodship of Lower Silesia, aged 18-28.

            643 people participated in the survey. The study did not find any statistically significant differences in the attitudes towards professional future as presented by women and men in the age bracket between 18 and 28 years old. The female vision of the future relates more to the job security need. Women more frequently hold pro-social attitudes and take up social activities. In the assessment of their own competences, women judged themselves more favourably on coping with stress, while men were more likely to report here effective communication skills. It should be mentioned that surveys have their limitations, as they may reflect attitudes which are merely declarative and not real. It would be advisable to carry out a more in-depth research by developing a method based on qualitative research methods.