At what age did you make your career choice?
Your answers to these questions will depend, to a large extent, upon your profession. Individuals across professions report distinct values and attitudes regarding their careers. For example, compare the ages at which samples of medical, dental and audiology students first consider and then later decide to pursue their career.
Age first considered
|
Physician |
Dentist |
Audiologist |
Before 14 years of age |
51% |
42% |
3% |
Between 14-17 years |
35% |
45% |
9% |
Between 18-21 years |
14% |
13% |
48% |
Since 21 years |
0% |
0% |
40% |
Age of definite decision
|
Physician |
Dentist |
Audiologist |
Before 14 years of age |
18% |
5% |
1% |
Between 14-17 years |
26% |
36% |
4% |
Between 18-21 years |
51% |
58% |
40% |
Since 21 years |
5% |
1% |
55% |
If you first considered pursuing your career after age 18, the odds are 6 to 1 that you are an audiologist (and not a physician or dentist), and if you definitely decided after age 21, then the odds are at least 11 to 1. Interestingly, the selection of a career can be thought of as the earliest instance of professional behavior. Clearly, there are dramatic differences between these students in age at which they make career choices (Neal, 1994).
A number of circumstances may contribute to these differences. First, opportunities for learning about the professional activities of audiologists are much more limited than they are for other professions. Children grow up visiting their family physicians, dentists or even optometrists, and have an opportunity to experience firsthand the services they provide. Such early and frequent contacts place practitioners in those fields in an excellent position to influence and recruit young people. In contrast, the public at large has less exposure and direct contact with audiologists. The low prevalence of hearing loss in children and young adults makes it difficult to expose recruits to audiologists. In addition, older adults (e.g., parents or grandparents) who are in a position to influence young people's career choices often receive audiological services in another professional's office, never even recognizing that an audiologist provided their care. A physician is sought out to treat the ear, rather than an audiologist to treat their hearing.