Career Interests and Personality Traits of Indian Engineering Students: A Dataset and Comprehensive Descriptive Analysis

Abstract

The recent trends in choosing careers among the students from a private engineering college of Sikkim are examined using Big five inventory. The behavioural data is collected from 1st semester onwards with total sample size 1863, comprising participants of 1167 males and 696 females. The main aim is to develop a career interest scale based on Five factor model (FFM) using the standard BFI-10 questionnaire. The data collected through a structured instrument using a Microsoft form as major part of this non-experimental design. Several Descriptive statistics and frequency distribution analysis is carried out to find which parameters have direct major impact on career preferences including gender-based personality traits where men prefer leadership, risk taking and physically demanding jobs, on the other side female’s choice inclines to people oriented, stable and creative professions. This personality-based career choices datasets provides insights into the career aspirants engineering students and shows a base for further analytical approaches which leads to career prediction and counselling guidance. The dataset can be explored for several research works which may give important insights for technical institutes to create specialized skill-based courses and career counsellor for career advice. Additionally, it can be used to create particular skill-building exercises, like workshops for engineering or design students that emphasize technical proficiency, communication, creativity, and analysis. This information can be used to track student development and enhance institutional support for all-around student development.