Factors Influencing Choice of Food Safety Related Career Path: An Online Focus Group Study

摘要

The increased demand for trained professionals with a science, technology, engineering, and math background to monitor and maintain the safety of the food supply has been identified by related industries and government agencies. Information regardingthe influential factors identified by students to major in a food safety (FS) related career path is lacking. Online focus group sessions with 20 students in a FS related major provided insight to factors influencing career decisions as well as the relationships between FS and chosen career paths. Sixty percent of the students majored in an agricultural related field. The remaining students were dietetics, hospitality, microbiology and biotechnology majors. Social Cognitive Career Theory served as the guiding force to develop the survey questions. The information shared by students was analyzed using focused coding methods to extract common descriptive terms. The descriptive terms led to themes of influential factors related to the students' chosen career paths. For example, students identified a desire for a career where they could help others (n=10) and work with people (n=13). These two common descriptors generated a theme of job satisfaction (influential factor). Market forces related to employment demands and financial gain were less of a factor. Agriculture classes, FFA, job shadowing, and work experience were described as influential factors in exposing students to career paths and confirming their decisions. When seeking professional employment, the students identified passion for their career while financial stability was referred to in a subtle manner.