Effective Factors on Attitudes toward Job Prospect among PhD Students

Job motivation is essential for effective employment. The aim of this study was to investigate affective factors on attitudes toward future job among PhD students in Hamadan University of Medical Sciences.

This is a descriptive-cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 81 Ph.D. students who were selected from different faculties based on academic discipline (basic and clinical sciences). Using a structured questionnaire including demographic information, self-efficacy, attitude toward the field of study, and professional development. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 21.

The mean age of PhD students were 35.8 with a standard deviation of 8.7. The majority of them were women (60%), married (53%) and those in basic sciences (91%). The results showed that the attitude toward the field of study was good, but the attitude toward the job prospect was not in desirable limit. There was a significant relationship between mentoring function (instructor) and attitudes toward job prospects. In addition, self-efficacy had a significant relationship with the field of study and job prospects (P<0.05).

Improving self-efficacy in PhD students and emphasizing to the role of faculty members as a pattern are effective on attitudes toward job prospect. Therefore, the new regulations, the provision of appropriate facilities, successful planning for the training of a capable workers and the creation of new job positions are other measures to promote university mobility.