Career Exploration and Job Readiness Levels of College Students in the Demographic Bonus Era

Abstract

The demographic bonus era demands that universities not only produce knowledgeable graduates but also have mature and competitive career readiness. This study aims to describe the level of career exploration and work readiness of Ma'soem University students as part of an effort to understand the readiness of young human resources to face the modern world of work. This study uses a quantitative descriptive approach with a population of 460 final-year students at Ma'soem University, and 224 respondents were selected using the Slovin formula with a proportional random sampling technique. Data were collected through a Likert scale questionnaire that has been tested for validity and reliability and analyzed using descriptive statistics through the calculation of averages, percentages, and achievement categories. The results show that the level of career exploration of students is in the moderate category with an average score of 92.09 (73.67%), while work readiness is also in the moderate category with an average of 87.28 (69.82%). These findings indicate that students have fairly good career awareness but still need to be strengthened in practical skills, adaptability, and professional confidence. This study recommends the need for integration between academic learning and career-based experiences through internship programs, career guidance, and industry partnerships to improve students' work readiness in the era of digital transformation and global competition.