This study developed and tested a model to explore the way hotel students select internship employers based on their perceived importance of the criteria for selecting internship employers, which is grounded in the expectancy theory and job choice framework. Drawing from a self-administered survey of 273 hotel management college students in Taiwan, the study used cluster analysis to generate four clusters of students, namely learning enthusiasts, social support seekers, brand seekers, and school followers. Chi-square tests showed that school followers generally do not have internship experience. Implications for educators and internship employers are discussed in the paper.
Cite this paper
Ko, C. (2021). Exploring the Way Hotel Students Select Internship Employers. Open Access Library Journal, 8, e8189. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1108189.
Richardson, S. (2008) Undergraduate Tourism and Hospitality Students Attitudes toward a Career in the Industry: A Preliminary Investigation. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 8, 23-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313220802410112
Lam, T. and Ching, L. (2007) An Exploratory Study of an Internship Program: The Case of Hong Kong Students. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 26, 336-351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2006.01.001
O’Leary, S. and Deegan, J. (2005) Career Progression of Irish Tourism and Hospitality Management Graduates. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 17, 421-432. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596110510604841
Kusluvan, S. and Kusluvan, Z. (2000) Perceptions and Attitudes of Undergraduate Tourism Students towards Working in the Tourism Industry in Turkey. Tourism Management, 21, 251-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(99)00057-6
Jiang, B. and Tribe, J. (2010) ‘Tourism Jobs—Short Lived Professions’: Student Attitudes towards Tourism Careers in China. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 9, 4-19.
Yiu, M. and Law, R. (2012) A Review of Hospitality Internship: Different Perspectives of Students, Employers, and Educators. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 12, 377-402. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313220.2012.729459
Chathoth, P.K., Mak, B., Sim, J., Jauhari, V. and Manaktola, K. (2011) Assessing Dimensions of Organizational Trust across Cultures: A Comparative Analysis of U.S. and Indian Full Service Hotels. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 30, 233-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2010.09.004
Zopiatis, A. (2007) Hospitality Internships in Cyprus: A Genuine Academic Experience or a Continuing Frustration? International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 19, 65-77. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596110710724170
Cho, M. (2006) Student Perspectives on the Quality of Hotel Management Internships. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 6, 61-76.
https://doi.org/10.1300/J172v06n01_04
Siu, G., Cheung, C. and Law, R. (2012) Developing a Conceptual Framework for Measuring Future Career Intention of Hotel Interns. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 12, 188-215. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313220.2012.678220
Patterson, P.G. (1993) Expectations and Product Performance as Determinants of Satisfaction for a High-Involvement Purchase. Psychology & Marketing, 10, 449- 465. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.4220100507
Hejmadi, M.V., Bullock, K., Gould, V. and Lock, G.D. (2011) Is Choosing to Go on Placement a Gamble? Perspectives from Bioscience Undergraduates. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 37, 605-618.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2011.557714
Knemeyer, A.M. and Murphy, P.R. (2002) Logistics Internships: Employer and Student Perspectives. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 32, 135-152. https://doi.org/10.1108/09600030210421732
Dickerson, J.P. (2009) The Realistic Preview May Not Yield Career Satisfaction. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 28, 297-299.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2008.06.015
Lee, S.A. (2008) Increasing student learning: A Comparison of Students’ Perceptions of Learning in the Classroom Environment and Their Industry-Based Experiential Learning Assignments. Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 7, 37-54.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15313220802033310
Garavan, T.N. and Murphy, C. (2001) The Co-Operative Education Process and Organisational Socialisation: A Qualitative Study of Student Perceptions of Its Effectiveness. Education Training, 43, 281-302.
https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000005750
Spowart, J. (2006) Hotel School Students’ Views of Their Preparation for Work-In- tegrated Learning: An Exploratory Study. Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education, 7, 10-15.
Lin, Y.H. (2006) The Incidence of Sexual Harassment of Students While Undergoing Practicum Training Experience in the Taiwanese Hospitality Industry—Indi- viduals Reactions and Relationships to Perpetrators. Tourism Management, 27, 51- 68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2004.06.018
Taylor, M.S. (1988) Effects of College Internships on Individual Participants. Journal of Applied Psychology, 73, 393-401. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.73.3.393
Aggett, M. and Busby, G. (2011) Opting Out of Internship: Perceptions of Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management Undergraduates at a British University. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 10, 106-113.
https://doi.org/10.3794/johlste.101.310
Fidgeon, P.R. (2010) Tourism Education and Curriculum Design: A Time for Consolidation and Review? Tourism Management, 31, 699-723.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2010.05.019
Kwok, L., Adams, C.R. and Price, M.A. (2011) Factors Influencing Hospitality Recruiters’ Hiring Decisions in College Recruiting. Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, 10, 372-399. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332845.2011.588571
Cook, S.J., Parker, R.S. and Pettijohn, C.E. (2004) The Perceptions of Interns: A Longitudinal Case Study. Journal of Education for Business, 79, 179-185.
Chen, F.C., Ku, E.C.S, Shyr, Y.H., Chen, F.H. and Chou, S.S. (2009) Job Demand, Emotional Awareness, and Job Satisfaction in Internships: The Moderating Effect of Social Support. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 37, 1429- 1440. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2009.37.10.1429
Oliver, R.L. (1980) A Cognitive Model of the Antecedents and Consequences of Satisfaction Decisions. Journal of Marketing Research, 17, 460-469.
https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378001700405
Kim, H.B. and Park, E.J. (2013) The Role of Social Experience in Undergraduates’ Career Perceptions through Internships. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 12, 70-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2012.11.003
Ruhanen, L., Robinson, R. and Breakey, N. (2013) A Tourism Immersion Internship: Student Expectations, Experiences and Satisfaction. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 13, 60-69.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2013.02.001
Waryszak, R.Z. (1999) Students’ Expectations from Their Cooperative Education Placements in the Hospitality Industry: An International Perspective. Education Training, 41, 33-40. https://doi.org/10.1108/00400919910255924
Barron, P. (2008) Education and talent management: Implications for the hospitality industry. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 20, 730-742. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596110810897583
Chen, T.L. and Shen, C.C. (2012) Today’s Intern, Tomorrow’s Practitioner?—The Influence of Internship Programmes on Students’ Career Development in the Hospitality Industry. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 11, 29-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2012.02.008
Krosnick, J.A. (1988) The Role of Attitude Importance in Social Evaluation: A Study of Policy Preferences, Presidential Candidate Evaluations, and Voting Behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, 196-210.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.55.2.196
Richardson, S. (2009) Undergraduates’ Perceptions of Tourism and Hospitality as a Career Choice. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 28, 382-388.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2008.10.006
Pounder, D.G. and Merrill, R.J. (2001) Job Desirability of the High School Principalship: A Job Choice Theory Perspective. Educational Administration Quarterly, 37, 27-57. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X01371003
Lawler III, E.E., Kuleck, W.J., Rhode, J.G. and Sorensen, J.E. (1975) Job Choice and Post Decision Dissonance. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 13, 133-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/0030-5073(75)90009-4
Van Eerde, W. and Thierry, H. (1996) Vroom’s Expectancy Models and Work-Re- lated Criteria: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 81, 575-586.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.81.5.575
Wanous, J.P., Keon, T.L. and Latack, J.C. (1983) Expectancy Theory and Occupational/Organizational Choices: A Review and Test. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 32, 66-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/0030-5073(83)90140-X
Chapman, D. and Webster, J. (2006) Toward an Integrated Model of Applicant Reactions and Job Choice. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 17, 1032-1057. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585190600696572
Mahony, D.F., Mondello, M., Hums, M.A. and Judd, M. (2006) Recruiting and Retaining Sport Management Faculty: Factors Affecting Job Choice. Journal of Sport Management, 20, 414-430. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.20.3.414
Boswell, W.R., Roehling, M.V., LePine, M.A. and Moynihan, L.M. (2003) Individual Job-Choice Decisions and the Impact of Job Attributes and Recruitment Practices: A Longitudinal Field Study. Human Resource Management, 42, 23-37.
https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.10062
Bundy, P. and Norris, D. (1992) What Accounting Students Consider Important in the Job Selection Process. Journal of Applied Business Research, 8, 1-6.
Cable, D.M. and Turban, D.B. (2003) The Value of Organizational Reputation in the Recruitment Context: A Brand-Equity Perspective. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 33, 2244-2266. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2003.tb01883.x
Aycan, Z. and Fikret-Pasa., S. (2003) Career Choices, Job Selection Criteria, and Leadership Preferences in a Transitional Nation: The Case of Turkey. Journal of Career Development, 30, 129-144. https://doi.org/10.1177/089484530303000203
Tse, T.S.M. (2010) What Do Hospitality Students Find Important about Internships? Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 10, 251-264.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15313221003792027
