Introduction: In Japan, mass hiring remains the dominant method of recruiting new graduates; however, currently, the job-hunting process is starting earlier and lasts longer. Previous studies indicate that students' job-search anxiety and career indecision (CI) increase with academic seniority, potentially undermining university adjustment and psychological well-being.
Purpose: This study examines the interaction between career skills (CS) for utilized circumstances, based on planned happenstance theory, and CI, and its association with university life satisfaction, well-being, and job-search behavior.
Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted with 678 Japanese university students (aged 18-24 years; 344 men, 334 women) registered with an Internet research company. Measures included the CS scale, the CI scale, the short version of the psychological well-being scale, items on job-search behavior, one item on job-search anxiety, and one item on university life satisfaction. Correlation analyses, cluster analysis, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to examine relationships between the variables.
Results: CS showed weak negative correlations with certain aspects of job-search behavior and anxiety, weak positive correlations with aspects of CI and university life satisfaction, and a moderate positive correlation with psychological well-being. A cluster analysis combining CS and CI identified four clusters: (1) low CI, low CS; (2) high CI, average CS; (3) high CI, low CS; and (4) low CI, high CS. The ANOVA indicated that Cluster 4 exhibited the highest job-search behavior, satisfaction, and well-being. Cluster 2 maintained satisfaction and well-being but had lower job-search activity, whereas Cluster 3 was characterized by high job-search anxiety and lower satisfaction, well-being, and job-search behavior.
Conclusions: Even with high CI, students with average CS maintained university satisfaction and well-being but were less proactive in job-search activities. Early interventions to foster CS may support university adjustment, enhance job-search engagement, and promote psychological well-being.