Re‐evaluating the role of social capital in the career decision‐making behaviour of working‐class students

Abstract

The evidence suggests that working‐class students are disadvantaged in the graduate labour market. This article focuses on the extent to which students from working‐class backgrounds are disadvantaged in the career decision‐making process because of their lack of social capital. The study is based on in‐depth interviews with 30 final‐year undergraduates from a range of different undergraduate programmes. It found that a lack of social capital (especially when students do not utilise the university careers services) can represent a serious barrier to effective career decision‐making for working‐class students. However, the level of social capital available to students varies considerably. This paper, therefore, argues that careers education and advice should focus on the needs of students as individuals rather than as members of a particular social class.

Keywords:

• career decision‐making
• social class
• social capital
• networks
• role models

Acknowledgements

Funding for this research from the Higher Education Careers Service Unit (HECSU) is gratefully acknowledged. The author would also like to thank Sue Hepworth for the valuable contribution she made to this study.