Constructing Integrated Career Habitus from High School to University: A ‘Field-Habitus’ Perspective

Abstract

Based on Bourdieu's ‘field-habitus’ theory, this paper explores the continuity of students' career planning behaviours in high school and university, and the roles of social capital, cultural capital and economic capital behind them. Through questionnaires and in-depth interviews, this paper analyses Chinese high school and university level students' career planning patterns in different fields, and reveals the continuity of career planning habitus in high school and college and the challenges they face. It is found that adolescents' career planning in the three arenas of high school, transition (after the college entrance examination and before entering college), and college are influenced by their unique evaluation systems and dominant capitals, and different career planning habitus is formed. Students’ career planning habits formed in high school often persist into university, especially among those with strong cultural and social capital. Meanwhile, differences in economic capital also had a significant impact on the continuity of students' career planning habitus. Based on the results of the study, the article also proposes career planning guidance strategies for different educational stages. The cultivation of career planning behaviours not only needs to be carried out in a single educational stage, but also needs to be continued and strengthened during the educational transition.

Received: 7 January 2025 / Accepted: 17 February 2025 / Published: 06 March 2025