Husremović, Dženana, Vardo, Elvis, Zovko, Ivona Čarapina, Sarajlić, Hana, Sesar, Jelena, and Klisura, Lejla
First-generation students are young people whoenrollin a higher education institution but neitheroftheirparents / guardianshasfinishedhighereducation, whilenext-generationstudents are thosewhohave at least one parent / guardianwithhighereducation. Theresearchaimed to examinewhetherthere are differencesintheperceptionofself-efficacy for careerdecision-making, network socialcapital, employmentbarriers, adaptability and employabilitybetweenfirstgenerationstudents and next-generationstudents. 1678 finalyearstudentsofthe University of Sarajevo, the University of Tuzla and the University of Mostar participatedintheresearch, of which 65.8% werefirst-generationstudents and 34.2% werenext-generationstudents. Instruments used: Socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire, TheSelf-PerceivedEmployability Scale (Roothwell, Jewell&Hardie, 2009), CareerAdaptabilityQuestionnaire (Savickas&Porfeli, 2012; Babarović & Šverko, 2016), Social Network Characteristics Scale (Van Hoyeetal., 2009), AdaptedBarrierPerception Scale (McWhirteretal., 2000), CareerDecision-MakingSelf-Efficacy Scale (Betz& Taylor, 1993). The data wascollectedintheSpringof 2021 inan online format. Theresults show thatthere are no significantdifferencesintheperceptionofinternal and externalem ployability, as well as intheperceptionofself-efficacyin post-collegedecisionmakingbetweenfirst-generation and next-generationstudents. Significant difference swereidentifiedinmeasuresofsize, strength, and status of socialcapital. First generationstudentsperceivesmallersize (t = -2.21; df = 1676; p = 0.021), strength (t = -3.26; df = 1676; p = 0.001) and status of socialcapital (t = -3, 36; df = 1676; p = 0.001) whichindicatesthatfirst-generation students perceivethattheyknowfewerpeoplewhocanhelpthemin their job search, thatthey are lessconnectedwiththem and thatthosepeoplehave a lowersocial status compared to peoplewho are connectedwithnext-generationstudents. Significant differen cesinthe perception of financial (t = 2.99; df = 1676; p = 0.003) and externalbarriers (t = 2.17; df = 1676; p = 0.03) wereidentified. Theconclusionindicatesthat, at theendoftheirstudies, first-generation students have equalinternalcapacities to look for theirfirstjob, but thattheir perception of the size, strength and status of network socialcapitalisweaker, and financial and externalbarriers are greater. Isisnecessary to provide actions to minimizebarriersorenablethe development of skills for overcomingbarriers to employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]