Career guidance programmes are essential in guiding high school students toward informed career choices by exposing them to further education opportunities, diverse career paths, industry expectations and skill development opportunities. Most students are unable to articulate career decision-making due to a lack of exposure and guidance, structured career awareness initiatives such as career counseling, workshops and career fairs which could enhance awareness of diverse career pathways. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of career awareness programmes in enhancing students' understanding of career options, decision-making skills, career confidence, job market knowledge, soft skills needed and future career aspirations. Adopting the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) as a theoretical framework, a quantitative approach was chosen employing Likert-scale questionnaires and stratified random sampling to ensure representation. A total of 5,611 secondary and sixth-form students across four districts in Brunei Darussalam responded to the questionnaires. Data analysis via SPSS version 20 revealed significant positive relationships between self-efficacy and career outcomes (r = 0.30, p < 0.001), as well as environmental influences and career choices (r = 0.35, p < 0.001). However, outcome expectations showed no significant impact (r = 0.01, p = 0.458). The study emphasises the needs to boost both self-efficacy and supportive environments. Recommendations include raising awareness and equity, incorporating experiential learning, using Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT)-based counseling, involving family and stakeholders to optimise the effectiveness of the career guidance initiatives.