Enhancing career choice motivation and self-efficacy in high school students: A decision-analytic career intervention

As high school students approach graduation, they face important decisions about their future, yet many lack formal training in decision-making. To address this gap, the KLUGentscheiden! intervention was developed to teach students how to make complex decisions. According to decision-analytical theories, KLUGentscheiden! focuses on three core components of effective decision-making: defining personal objectives, identifying relevant alternatives, and comparing alternatives through weighted evaluation. In this study, 157 students participated in a pseudo-randomized controlled trial, with the intervention group receiving two training days of KLUGentscheiden!. Training success was measured via career choice motivation and career choice self-efficacy before, immediately after, and 8-11 weeks post intervention. Results showed significant improvements in both career choice motivation and career choice self-efficacy for the intervention group, with sustained effects at follow-up. These findings highlight KLUGentscheiden!'s potential to enhance decision-making skills in high school students, improving their readiness for post-graduation choices.