Career Planning Analysis on Job Opportunities for Gen Z Fresh Graduates: The Mediating Role of Work Readiness and Self-Confidence

Research Aims: To analyze the effect of Career Planning on Job Opportunities for Gen Z Fresh Graduates, with Work Readiness and Self-Confidence as mediating variables Design/Methodology/Approach: This study adopted a quantitative method with a causal approach. Data were collected through the direct distribution of questionnaires to 85 recent graduates of the Management study program at Primagraha University, selected from a total population of 208. The data were analyzed using SmartPLS version 4.0 Research Findings: The findings of this study indicate that career planning has a significant direct effect on job opportunities for Gen Z fresh graduates. Additionally, work readiness and self-confidence serve as mediating variables that strengthen this correlation. The study also finds that both work readiness and self-confidence significantly affect job opportunities, highlighting their crucial role in helping Gen Z fresh graduates enter the competitive job market. Theoretical Contribution/Originality: This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the importance of career planning and the preparation of fresh graduates to face the challenges of the job market. Additionally, it enriches the literature on the correlation between career planning, job opportunities, work readiness, and self-confidence among Gen Z fresh graduates.