An investigation into the congruence between personality type and career choice of a group of Namibian undergraduate accounting students

Abstract

Executive summary provided by author:

The purpose of this study was to examine the congruence between personality type and career choice of a group of Namibian undergraduate accounting students. The sample consisted of 234 accountancy students. Personality was administered using the G version of the Myers Brigg's Type Indicator. The congruence between personality and environment was measured using the Self-Directed Search, developed by John Holland. Thus the relation between the MBTI preferences and the SDS personality types was reported

The main research question was: to what degree does Holland's Career Choice Theory agree to the personality profile and career choices of Namibian commercial students with accountancy as one of their subjects?

The results of the study indicated that the personality profile of the majority of students belonged to the Conventional, Enterprising and Social Scales. This agreed to theoretical predictions that were made before hand using John Holland's Career Choice Theory. The Self- Directed Search as an instrument can therefore be used with confidence by career counsellors in Namibia

The second research question was: Can the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Self-Directed Search be applied to a cultural diverse Namibian population?

The results for both instruments were in line with what would be expected bases on knowledge of the underpinning theories. This reflected well on the integrity of both the Myers-Briggs Typed Indicator and the Self- Directed Search and their applicability on a Namibian

population

Unfortunately, because the research group used in this study was not representative of the general population, one cannot project the findings to the Namibian population. The findings of this research did however match those of international studies, and the deduction can thus be made that if this study was to be repeated with a representative sample, that similar results would be found

Finally, the study indicated that the students have a limited knowledge of occupations. This can be because of a lack of role models and limited exposure to career education programmes