Social Psychology Research

Abstract Introduction: Successful entry into the labor market is a critical stage in students' professional development, and targeted educational interventions can enhance their career optimism and transition readiness. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of flourishing training and transactional analysis on students' career path optimism and readiness for the transition from university to the workforce. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest and a control group. The population comprised all unmarried final-year students enrolled at Golestan Azad University during the 2023–2024 academic year. Using convenience sampling, 45 students were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (15 participants per group). The first experimental group received flourishing training, while the second received transactional analysis training across ten 60-minute sessions; the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Rottinghaus Career Path Optimism Questionnaire (2005) and the University-to-Work Transition Readiness Questionnaire (Sadeghi et al., 2017). Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) with SPSS-26. Results: Both flourishing training and transactional analysis significantly improved students' career path optimism and transition readiness (p < 0.05). Significant differences in effectiveness were observed between the two interventions, with flourishing training demonstrating a greater impact on both outcomes. Conclusion: Flourishing training enhances students' sense of competence, self-management, and self-awareness, promotes positive perceptions of their abilities, and fosters optimism, thereby facilitating a successful transition from university to work. Implementing such educational interventions is recommended to better prepare students for entering the labor market..