The Effect of Career Planning and Self-Efficacy on Work Readiness of Siliwangi University Fresh Graduates

This study investigates the influence of career planning and self-efficacy on job readiness among fresh graduates entering the workforce at Siliwangi University. Self-efficacy, defined as an individual’s belief in their capacity to execute actions necessary to achieve specific objectives, constitutes a fundamental psychological construct for employment preparation. Utilizing a quantitative approach with saturated sampling methodology, data were collected from 30 respondents aged 21–24 years and analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. The findings demonstrate that career planning and self-efficacy collectively contribute significantly to job readiness, accounting for 68.4% of the variance. Notably, self-efficacy emerged as the dominant predictor with a statistically significant effect (β = 0.679; p < 0.001), while career planning did not demonstrate significant partial contribution due to multicollinearity. These results indicate that confidence in one’s capabilities plays a more critical role than structured career planning alone in preparing individuals for employment. Therefore, institutional policies should integrate comprehensive self-efficacy enhancement interventions alongside career guidance programs to foster psychological resilience and employment readiness. Practical Recommendation: Higher education institutions should establish integrated career development centers that combine career counseling with evidence-based self-efficacy training workshops and mentoring programs.