Impact of Social Skills on Career Aspirations among Senior Secondary Students

Abstract

Social skills play a significant role in shaping students’ personalities, interpersonal relationships, and future career aspirations. The present study aims to examine the impact of social skills on career aspirations among senior secondary students. Social skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, empathy, cooperation, and problem-solving contribute to students’ confidence, decision-making abilities, and understanding of various career opportunities. During the senior secondary stage, students make important academic and career-related decisions that influence their future professional pathways. The development of effective social skills may help students interact confidently with teachers, peers, parents, and career counsellors, thereby enabling them to explore career options and establish realistic professional goals. The study seeks to understand the relationship between social skills and career aspirations and to identify how interpersonal competencies influence students’ career choices, ambitions, and preparedness for future employment. It also emphasises the importance of educational institutions in providing opportunities for collaborative learning, group discussions, leadership activities, and career guidance programmes. Understanding this relationship can assist teachers, parents, and policymakers in developing strategies that promote students’ social competence and career development. The study is expected to contribute to a better understanding of the role of social skills in career planning and highlight the need to integrate social skill development into secondary education.