VRChances: An Immersive Virtual Reality Experience to Support Teenagers in Their Career Decisions

Abstract

In this paper, we present a tool that offers young people virtual career guidance through an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience. While virtual environments provide an effective way to explore different experiences, VR offers users immersive interactions with simulated 3D environments. This allows the realistic exploration of different job fields in a virtual environment without being physically present. The study investigates the extent to which performing occupational tasks in a virtual environment influences the career perceptions of young adults and whether it enhances their understanding of professions. In particular, the study focuses on users’ expectations of an electrician’s profession. In total, 23 teenagers and eight application experts were involved to assess the teenager’s expectations and the potential of the career guidance tool.

Keywords

• virtual reality
• career guidance
• job simulation
• unemployment