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Piecing together the puzzle of graduate employment : factors that shape the graduate work expectations of human resource management students

journal contribution
posted on 2011-02-01, 00:00 authored by Melissa ParrisMelissa Parris, Kerrie SavilleKerrie Saville
Providing graduates with a set of skills and attributes relevant to their future employment remains a key topic in both higher education policy and research. This paper reports findings from a pilot study of human resource management (HRM) students' perceptions of the graduate work experience. Specifically, it focuses on how these perceptions are shaped, driven by a concern for the uncertainty - and even fear - expressed by the study's participants in relation to their future workplace experiences. The influences of three key factors in shaping participants' expectations are discussed: the graduate recruitment experience, previous work experiences and 'graduate work folklore' from the stories of family and friends. With these influences not always providing students with a realistic picture of their future work experience, we conclude that educators need to improve the opportunities for practical experience and industry knowledge through work placements, stronger links with industry and increased exposure to the practicalities of work within the curriculum.

History

Journal

Industry & higher education

Volume

25

Issue

1

Pagination

15 - 24

Publisher

I P Publishing Ltd.

Location

London, England

ISSN

0950-4222

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

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