Importance of Relational Closeness in Career Development for Students from Low-income Backgrounds

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 1:45 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Career and Post-Graduation Plans

Abstract

Students often choose to attend college to prepare for their future careers and to enhance their career prospects. While low-income students comprise a large proportion of college-goers, relatively little is known about their career development experiences or how they develop networks of career support. This qualitative paper explores how trust and relational proximity influence who low-income students turn to for career development support. We leverage student reflections on their career development experiences and their recommendations for improving career support to provide research-informed guidance for postsecondary leaders who wish to improve low-income student college experiences and critical career development outcomes.

Authors

• Ronald Hallett, University of Southern California

• Joseph Kitchen, University of Southern California