The motivation of prospective professional careers and the success attributes of Chinese and Russian University students

The purpose is to examine how students are being motivated by their prospective Jobs and how this motivation is linked with the success attributes. With the use of 5 questionnaire-type methodologies we conducted the study with 120 respondents, 60 from China and 60 from Russia, finishing their last year of undergraduate studies, RUDN University (Moscow, Russia). For Chinese students, success was internal and procedural, for Russians - more external and efficacious. Chinese students, as representatives of a masculine culture, are characterized by their drive to achieve future career success, that they may achieve internal harmony which does not require the others' recognition. Success as an internal mental state can be seen in their low level of uncertainty avoidance. For the Russian students, a high level of uncertainty avoidance is reflected in risk-avoidance and a strong determination to be victorious when competing as well as their determination to help others. Being feminist culture members the Russian students seek the others' recognition on a larger scale than they do internal satisfaction of personal success. Differences in success attributes among Chinese and Russian students can be considered by the building of a program on motivation in Russo-Chinese companies with the goals of increasing the level of involvement among young employees within the organizational process. © 2018