On the High School Career Guidance in Secondary Schools in the Trans-Baikal Territory

Background: The article discusses the results of sociological studies of the career guidance in secondary educational institutions in the Trans-Baikal Territory, as well as their graduates’ professional plans. Methods: A sociological survey was conducted among secondary school graduates in Trans-Baikal Territory, using a specially designed questionnaire aiming to investigate the high school students’ awareness about the important careers in modern world, labor market, main sources of information about the important careers, preferences in professional activities and other urgent issues in career guidance. The following methods of the research were used: Questionnaires, qualitative and quantitative processing of data. Findings: Analysis of the obtained results demonstrated that school graduates have difficulties in a professional choice, due to the lack of information about the list of modern professions, about their own abilities and interests, etc. In a situation when upper-formers have already decided with their future profession, their knowledge of the chosen specialty differs by superficiality, the deficit of information about the content of the profession and demands placed on it. Career guidance work fulfilled at schools cannot fully meet the need for the lacking information. In addition, traditional methods and forms of this activity dominate. This fact attracts attention and actualizes the problem of maintaining professional orientation process by the concerned universities, including the Trans-Baikal State University career guidance and marketing department specialists. It is important to inform the secondary school graduates preparing to receive higher professional education that they should consciously chose a profession that meets not only the current situation in the labor market, but also their abilities and inclinations. Improvements: Proposed provisions can be used as a theoretical model defining career guidance work in secondary schools, areas of cooperation with high school to develop cooperation mechanisms for career guidance of today’s students.