Barriers, Adaptability, Employability, and Satisfaction: Career Perceptions of Business Students

ABSTRACT Objective: this study was aimed to verify how perceptions of career barriers and adaptability held by senior undergraduate students attending Business Administration programs influence employability and career satisfaction. Method: a survey was conducted among 358 senior undergraduate students. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, hypothesis tests for differences between means, and structural equation modeling. Results: significant differences were found in individuals’ perceptions regarding career barriers depending on sex and race. Contrary to the expected, the hypothesis test showed that contextual career barriers do not predict employability or satisfaction. Adaptability, in turn, predicted both, while employability predicted satisfaction. Conclusions: the results reinforce that sociodemographic characteristics are potential indicators to support understanding of perceived career barriers. Additionally, the students’ continued development of adaptability (concern, control, curiosity, confidence) to advance their careers and life plays an important role, positively influencing perceptions of overall abilities for work (employability) and career success.