Profiles of Career Engagement in the Senior Year of College: Comparing India and the United States

The search for identity-based work is a crucial developmental task for emerging adults. Among college students, the process of integrating personal interests and abilities often unfolds over several years, with career exploration frequently intensifying during the senior year as graduation approaches. This cross-sectional study examined the diverse trajectories of career exploration and decision-making among undergraduate college seniors in India and the United States. These trajectories, conceptualized as Phase-Adequate Career Engagement (PACE) profiles, reflect distinct levels of mental preparedness and engagement with career-related tasks during this critical period of transition. Each profile was tested for socio-demographic differences. Findings reveal five distinct PACE profiles, each characterized and labeled across cultural contexts. Notably, these profiles demonstrate significant associations with individual and family factors, underscoring the influence of cultural context on PACE during the transition out of college.