JOB CHARACTERISTICS THROUGH THE EYES OF THE YOUNG GENERATION: SURVEY RESEARCH YOUTH AND THEIR MOTIVES FOR MILITARY PROFESSION

Abstract

In the Slovenian Armed Forces, we conducted a survey research entitled Slovenian youth and their motives for the military profession to determine the characteristics of a generation of young people. The questionnaire, which was designed for the purpose of the research, used various questions to examine the interest of young people to work in the military and in the Slovenian Armed Forces. We aimed to identify the values, hobbies and interests of young people and how they perceive different job characteristics. In this article, we focus on how Slovenian high school students perceive job characteristics. We were interested in what is more attractive to them at work and what is less attractive. The results show that the youth’s main motives for work are related to pay, good relationships, promotion opportunities, job security and orderliness. Family also plays an important role. They want to know the meaning of their effort and to acquire the skills that can come useful in their lives. The characteristics of the military profession are not among the most interesting motives. An analysis by gender, type of the high school programme, and the interest in the military work show that the characteristics of the military profession are more attractive to male students, students of vocational programmes, and especially to those who have expressed a desire to work in the military. Key words Military profession, job characteristics, motives of the young generation.