The Meaning of Working for Young People Without Work Experience: An Empirical Research

Abstract

The aim of this study is to present a description of the meaning of work by analysing the thoughts of young people on working, work, business life and success. The data were collected with 15 fill-in-the-blank questions given to 21 students in the university elective Introduction to Professional Working Life course at a foundation university. Later, the inquiries used in the call for the issue of Reflective magazine with the theme " Working, not working, unable to work” were added to this questionnaire and data were collected from 3 more students studying in Turkey and continuing their higher education in Europe. The data were coded and analyzed with the help of MaxQDA qualitative data analysis program and implications have been made on things that cannot be tolerated in business, study, business life, fears while looking for a job, etc. We can say that the young people participating in the research generally attribute positive meanings to work/business, they are hopeful for success through working, they are afraid of being unemployed, and the meaning of working for them is a matter of survival rather than self-actualization.