Title: EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AMONG HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT STUDENTS IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBAY TOWARDS DESIGNING ENRICHMENT COMPETENCY
Author:
MERYJOY P. MESA
Abstract:
Many employers are hesitant to acquire fresh graduates wherein hospitality management graduates are more marketable if they have the necessary skills and knowledge the industry demands in today’s workforce. The talent needs by the industry makes this study on employability skills relevant leading towards identification of best practices and gaps in relation to graduates’ career preparation to match demands and expectations creating pressures on the educational institutions. This study specifically determined the profile of the students and human resource practitioner as well as the employability skills in terms of emotional intelligence, teamwork, stress and time management, problem solving, strategy innovation and communication skills necessary in the hospitality industry. Moreover, the significant difference in the employability skills when profiles of students and human resource practitioners are considered were also tested to further investigate on the employability skills gap of the students and hotel businesses. The researcher employed the descriptive research method and quantitative method using survey questionnaire due to its appropriateness to the specified problems. The profile shows that the hotel industry and hospitality management courses in Albay are dominated by female workers.

Students are aware of their strengths and weaknesses and their need to respect and acknowledged different views, insights, and perspectives of other people in the workplace to improve teamwork although they are hesitant to lead. However, willingness to increase active participation, improve negotiation skills, among others the abilities of the students are present. Stress affects people’s personal and professional endeavors as they aged regardless of gender, locale and civil status. Students are more confident on their employability skills compared to the human resource practitioners’ assessment but both are aware of the abilities of the students. The assessment of the students and human resource practitioners did not match which requires the need for employability enhancement programs hospitality management students.
Keywords: Hospitality Management, Hotels, Employability Skills, Emotional Intelligence, Teamwork, Stress and Time Management, Problem Solving, Strategy Innovation, and Communication Skills.
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