Graduating Career-Ready Business Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v24i2.6793Keywords:
higher education, career development curriculum, career-readiness, experiential learning, mentoring, internshipsAbstract
This paper analyses three key components of a career development curriculum for business majors that has generated superior results, supporting undergraduates’ transition from higher education to professional employment while teaching students career advancement skills that will be used throughout their lives. Students have expressed strong satisfaction with opportunities for coaching and mentoring, coursework facilitating experiential learning, and mandatory internships in their major. Analyses of qualitative data drawn from student assignments and course evaluations suggest these three elements of the program have positively impacted students’ career-readiness, career aspirations and career achievements. Quantitative data shows increased student success in achieving their career goals
References
Akkermans, T., Brenninkmeijer, V., Schaufeli, W., & Blonk, R.W. (2015). It’s all about career skills: Effectiveness of a career development intervention for young employees. Human Resource Management, 54(4), 533–551. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21633
Alfaro-Barrantes, P., Beaupré, J.G., & Jacobs, B.L. (2021). Experiential learning projects: Engaging first and second year principles of marketing students. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 21(1), 115–124. https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v21i1.4042
Amoroso, L.M., & Burke, M. (2018). Developing career-ready business students: Three curriculum models. Journal of Education for Business, 93(8), 1–10. DOI:10.1080/08832323.2018.1494533
Bayerlein, L., Hora, M.T., Dean, B.A., & Perkiss, S. (2021). Developing skills in higher education for post-pandemic work. Labour & Industry: A Journal of the Social and Economic Relations of Work, 12(1), 1–12. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10301763.2021.1966292
Bedwell, W.L., Fiore, S.M., & Salas, E. (2013) An approach for integrating interpersonal skills into the MBA classroom. The Academy of Management, Learning and Education, 13(2), 171–186. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2011.0138
Bhuwandeep, Das, P.P., & Mishra, S.N. (2022). Management education in pandemic times: Insights, challenges, and opportunities for the future. Journal of Education for Business, pp. 1–9. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08832323.2022.2045556
Blau, G., Williams, W., Jarrell, S., & Nash, D. (2019). Exploring common correlates of business undergraduate satisfaction with their degree program versus expected employment. Journal of Education for Business, 94(1), 31–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2018.1502144
Bruni-Bossio, V., & Delbaere, M. (2021). Not everything important is taught in the classroom: Using cocurricular professional development workshops to enhance student careers. Journal of Management, 45(2), 265–292. https://doi.org/10.1177/1052562920929060
Burke, M., Amoroso, L.M., & Shaw, J. (2022) An Empirical Investigation of a 21st Century Career Development Program for Business Majors. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 22(13). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v22i13.5510
Carter, J.D., Burke, M.G., & Hughey, A. (2019). The influence of business case competitions on students’ perceptions of learning. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly, 82(4), 475–494. https://doi.org/10.1177/2329490619829900
Chan, A., & Derry, T. (2013). A roadmap for transforming the college-to-career experience. Retrieved from https://prod.wp.cdn.aws.wfu.edu/sites/74/2013/05/A-Roadmap-for-Transforming-The-College-to-Career-Experience.pdf
Clark, S.C. (2003). Enhancing the educational value of business internships. Journal of Management Education, 27(4), 472–484. https://doi.org/10.1177/1052562903251350
Cunningham, G.B., Sagas, M., Dixon, M., Kent, A., & Turner, B.A. (2005). Anticipated career satisfaction, affective occupational commitment, and intentions to enter the sport management profession. Journal of Sport Management, 19, 43–57. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.19.1.43
D’Abate, C.P., Youndt, M., & Wenzel, K.E. (2009). Making the most of an internship: An empirical study of internship satisfaction. Academy of Management Learning and Education, 8(4), 527–539. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.8.4.zqr527
Dawson, P. (2014). Beyond a definition: Toward a framework for designing and specifying mentoring models. Educational Researcher, 43(3), 137–145. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X14528751
Delcoure, N., Karst, R.V., & Longoria, C.A. (2018). Business internships: A practical framework. Business Education & Accreditation, 10(1), 59–72. Retrieved from http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/beaccr/bea-v10n1-2018/BEA-V10N1-2018-6.pdf
Di Meglio, G., Barge-Gil, A., & Camiña, E. (2021). Knocking on employment’s door: Internships and job attainment. High Education, 83(10), 137–161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00643-x
Dixon, M.A., Cunningham, G.B., Sagas, M., Turner, B.A., & Kent, A. (2005). Challenge is key: An investigation of affective organizational commitment in undergraduate interns. Journal of Education for Business, 80(3), 72–180. https://doi.org/10.3200/JOEB.80.3.172-180
Dommeyer, C., Gross, B., & Ackerman, D. (2016). An exploratory investigation of college students’ views of marketing internships. Journal of Education for Business, 91, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2016.1251388
Drewery, D., Nevison, C., & Pretti, T. J. (2016). The influence of cooperative education and reflection upon previous work experiences on university graduates’ vocational self concept. Education+Training, 58(2), 179–192. https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-06-2015-0042
Farmer-Hinton, R.L. (2008). Social capital and college planning: Students of color using school networks for support and guidance. Education and Urban Society, 41(1), 127–157. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013124508321373
Friedman, H.H., Lynch, J.A., & Mintz, C. (2023) Does higher Education provide the necessary skills and competencies to succeed in the job market and life? Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 23(7). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v23i7.6007
Fulmore, J.A., Olson, J., & Maellaro, R. (2023). Aligning Leadership Education: Linking Interpersonal Skills Development to Business Needs. Journal of Management Education, 47(3), 263–291. https://doi.org/10.1177/10525629221133369
Gallup-Purdue Index Report. (2016). Great Jobs. Great Lives. The Value of Career Services, Inclusive Experiences and Mentorship for College Graduates. Gallup, Washington, DC.
Garjost, P., & Lawter, L. (2019). Undergraduates’ satisfaction and perceptions of learning outcomes across teacher- and learner-focused pedagogies. The International Journal of Management Education, 17(2), 267–275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2019.03.004
Gault, J., Leach, E., & Duey, M. (2010). Effects of business internships on job marketability: The employers’ perspective. Education+Training, 52(1), 76–88. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400911011017690
Gault, J., Redington, J., & Schlager, T. (2000). Undergraduate business internships and career success: Are they related? Journal of Marketing Education, 22(1), 45–53. https://doi.org/10.1177/0273475300221006
Hamilton, L.K., Boman, J., Rubin, H., & Sahota, B.K. (2019). Examining the impact of a university mentorship program on student outcomes. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, 8(1), 19–36. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-02-2018-0013
Haug, J.C., Wright, L.B., & Huckabee, W.A. (2019). Undergraduate business students’ perceptions about engagement. Journal of Education for Business, 94(2), 81–91. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2018.1504738
Heslin, P.A., & Turban, D.B. (2016). Enabling career success as an emergent process. Organizational Dynamics, 45(3), 155–164. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orgdyn.2016.07.001
Humpherys, S.L., Bakir, N., & Babb, J. (2022). Experiential learning to foster tacit knowledge through a role play, business simulation. Journal of Education for Business, 97(2), 119–125. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2021.1896461
Ibarra, H. (1999). Provisional selves: Experimenting with image and identity in professional adaptation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(4), 764–791. https://doi.org/10.2307/2667055
Jyoti, J., & Sharma, P. (2015). Impact of mentoring functions on career development: Moderating role of mentoring culture and mentoring structure. Global Business Review, 16(4), 700–718. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972150915581110
Klein, K.B., & Scott, C.L. (2021). Managing virtual internships during the Covid-19 pandemic era: Implications for academic instructors and business leaders. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 21(7), 211–218. https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v21i7.4497
Knouse, S.B., & Fontenot, G. (2008). Benefits of the business college internship: A research review. Journal of Employment Counseling, 45(2), 61–66. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1920.2008.tb00045.x
Kolb, D.A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN: 0132952610,
Koys, D.J., Thompson, K.R., Martin, W., & Lewis, P. (2019). Build it and they will come: Designing management curricula to meet career needs. Journal of Education for Business, 94(8), 503–511. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2019.1580244
Krishnan, S., Landa, S., Lin, P., & Yur-Austin, J. (2023). The effect of team-based active learning and embedded tutors in the first course in accounting. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 23(6). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v23i6.5964
Lent, R.W., & Brown, S.D. (2013). Social cognitive model of career self-management: Toward a unifying view of adaptive career behavior across the life span. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60(4), 557–568. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033446
McHugh, P.P. (2017). The impact of compensation, supervision and work design on internship efficacy: Implications for educators, employers and prospective interns. Journal of Education and Work, 30, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/13639080.2016.1181729
McKeown, T., & Lindorff, M. (2011). The graduate job search process – A lesson in persistence rather than good career management? Education + Training, 53(4), 310–320. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400911111138479
Mittendorff, K., den Brok P., & Beijaard, D. (2011). Students’ perceptions of career conversations with their teachers. Teaching and Teacher Education, 27, 515–523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2010.10.005.
Mittendorff, K., den Brok, P., & Beijaard, D. (2010). Career conversations in vocational schools. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 38(2), 143–165. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069881003601007
Morgan, S., Yazdanparast, A., & Rawski, G. (2018). Creating a distinctive business career outcome program. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 70(2), 251–276. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2017.1394356
Mukesh, H.V., Pillai, K.R., & Mamman, J. (2020). Action-embedded pedagogy in entrepreneurship education: An experimental enquiry. Studies in Higher Education, 45(8), 1679–1693. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1599848
Muslihati, Sobri, A.Y., Voak, A., Fairman, B., Wonorahardjo, S., & Suryani, A.W. (2023). Engaging with industry through internships in order to acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes for the world of work: The Indonesian student experience. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 23(9). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v23i9.6125
Nicholas, J.M., & Handley, M.H. (2020). Employability development in business undergraduates: A qualitative inquiry of recruiter perceptions. Journal of Education for Business, 95(2), 67–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2019.1604483
Niman, N.B., & Chagnon, J.R. (2021). Redesigning the future of experiential education. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 21(8), 87–98. https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v21i8.4507
Oberman, W., Hunt, I., Taylor, R., & Morrisette, S. (2021). Internships and occupational self-efficacy: Impact and gender differences. Journal of Education for Business, 96(7), 424–434. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2020.1848768
Obi, B.I.N., Eze, T.I., & Chibuzo, N.F. (2021). Experiential learning activities in business education for developing 21st century competencies. Journal of Education for Business, 97, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/08832323.2021.1884521
Patton, W., & McMahon, M. (2006). The systems framework of career development and counseling: Connecting theory and practice. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 28(2) 153–166. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-005-9010-1
Perusso, A., van der Sijde, P., Leal, R., & Blankesteijn, M. (2021). The effectiveness and impact of action learning on business graduates’ professional practice. Journal of Management Education, 45(2), 177–205. https://doi.org/10.1177/1052562920940374
Renn, R., Steinbauer, R., Taylor, R.R., & Detwiler, D.J. (2014). School-to-work transition: Mentor career support and student career planning, job search intentions, and self-defeating job search behavior. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 85, 422–432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2014.09.004
Rios, J.A., Ling, G., Pugh, R., Becker, D., & Bacall, A. (2020). Identifying critical 21st-century skills for workplace success: A content analysis of job advertisements. Educational Researcher, 49(2), 80–89. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X19890600
Ryan, S., & Ream, R.K. (2016). Variation across Hispanic immigrant generations in parent social capital, college-aligned actions, and four-year college enrollment. American Educational Research Journal, 53(4), 953–986. https://doi.org/10.3102/0002831216656395
Üsdiken, B., Kipping, M., & Engwall M. (2021) Professional School Obsession: An enduring yet shifting rhetoric by US business schools. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 20(3), 442–458. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2020.0109