An investigation into the career choice and occupational perceptions of professional builders and quantity surveyors

Firstly, this study investigated the career choice of professional builders and quantity surveyors, including careers guidance, job qualities and drifting into these professions. Secondly, the occupational stereotypes and the work role self-perceptions of these professions were studied. A questionnaire, including a semantic differential measure of occupational stereotypes, was used. A total response of one hundred and fifty-six was obtained; this included ninety-five members of the building and quantity surveying institutions and sixty-one undergraduates. Another semantic differential questionnaire was completed by one hundred and seventy-four professionals to measure their work role self-perceptions. Cluster analysis, factor analysis and discriminant analysis were used to study the stereotypes and the self-perceptions. Seventy per cent of the individuals drifted into their profession, many with inadequate careers guidance. Entrants perceived their professions' work reasonably accurately being attracted by the most important and well provided for intrinsic aspects, The industry's poor image was increasingly important. Dependent occupational stereotypes and work role self-perceptions were found and were similar for both professions and career levels. Both professions saw themselves apart from their stereo- type of a member of their own profession, suggesting poor professional socialisation and misperceptions.