Effect of hospitality and tourism students’ perceived skills on career adaptability and perceived employability

This study compared students’ perceived skills in the classroom and during their internship. It also assessed the effect of students’ perceived skills on career adaptability and perceived employability. A self-administered survey was sent out to hospitality and tourism undergraduate majors. Results showed that students perceived different skills in working under pressure, written communication, numeracy, planning and coordinating, and using new technology between internship set-ups and the classroom. It also indicated a positive relationship between soft skills and career adaptability, and between career adaptability and perceived employability. However, technical skills had no effect on career adaptability. Practical implications of complementing both classroom and internship experiences and enhancing soft skills of communication, problem-solving, and teamwork were discussed.