Impact of job satisfaction on occupational orientation and desire for career development

SUMMARY IMPACT OF JOB SATISFACTION ON OCCUPATIONAL ORIENTATION AND DESIRE FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT It is thought that job satisfaction is a factor that affects employees' attitudes towards their jobs and can also direct employees' decisions in terms of professional orientation and therefore career development. In this context, this study aims to examine the effect of job satisfaction on professional orientation and career development desire and also to make recommendations in line with the results of the research. Although one or two of these three parameters have been addressed using qualitative or quantitative methods in the literature, studies that address all three parameters together are few. In this context, this study aims to eliminate this deficiency in the literature by collecting data from 1004 teachers working in Rize Province through a face-to-face survey. The data obtained in the study were analyzed with the SPSS 29.0 package program. According to the findings obtained from the study in which descriptive statistical data, normality tests, validity, reliability analyses and correlation analyses were conducted, there is a significant and positive relationship between job satisfaction, professional orientation and career development parameters. In this context, when the study analysis results are examined; the quantitative analyses conducted to analyze the effects on job satisfaction, professional orientation and career development desire revealed that job satisfaction has significant positive effects on these two parameters. In particular, it was determined that there was a statistically significant and moderate positive correlation between job satisfaction and vocational orientation (Pearson = 0.537, p <0.001), indicating that vocational orientation increased with increasing job satisfaction. Similarly, a statistically significant and moderate positive correlation was determined between vocational orientation and career development desire (Pearson = 0.518, p <0.001). These results indicate that job satisfaction can significantly affect not only daily job performance but also individuals' long-term career goals and vocational development. In line with these results, it is recommended that practitioners and managers develop policies and continue their practices in this direction, considering that job satisfaction supports employees' vocational orientation and career development desire. Keywords: Job satisfaction, Vocational orientation, Vocation, Career development desire, Career.