Perceived Benefits and Making a Career Choice in the Hospitality Industry: Is it Worth it?

Abstract

Over the years, universities have continued to graduate students in the field of Hotel and Hospitality (H&H). However, existing statistics reveals that a majority of these graduates do not seek employment in the hospitality industry or start businesses in their area of study. This paper discusses the findings of a study which sought to establish the demographic factors influencing the attitudes of Hotel and Hospitality undergraduate students towards a career choice in the industry. The study was undertaken in Moi University, Department of Hotel and Hospitality Management, Uasin Gishu County, and Maseno University’s Department of Ecotourism, Hotel and Institutional Management (ECOHIM) in Kisumu County and used a sample of 145 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules and analyzed using SPSS ver. 25. The results intimated that perceived benefit had a positive and significant effect on career choice of the students in the industry (β= 0.013, ρ<0.05). Consequently, this paper posits that personal interests play a pivotal role in attitude formation. Most students view the industry as reputable and would have no qualms working in it. It was, however, noted that there are students who have less interest and harbour a negative attitude about the industry. This paper thus recommends that attention should be given to such students via career guidance and counselling. Educators should communicate the benefits of working in the industry and career possibilities in the hospitality industries and companies to students. They should make them aware about mobility progression, job diversity in the industry and other career information in order to create greater student interest about careers in the industry. Indeed knowledge of career identity and long term career planning will better enable students establish realistic and suitable career expectations.