Microsoft Word 2007 ichrie conference Proceedings Final-Final 06-06-07. doc

RESULTS 
The target population for this study was senior students in the HRM program at a Midwest comprehensive 
university (
N
= 123). Sixty-seven usable responses were collected, resulting in a usable response rate of 54.47%. 
Non-participation or non-response error could constitute a threat to external validity in a generalizable study (Miller 
& Smith, 1983). However, since this study was based on a convenient sample, which is not generalizable, the non-
participants (non-respondents) were ignored (Miller & Smith).
 
The first objective was to describe the students’ self-perceived level of competence at performing the 
employability skills necessary for careers in the hospitality industry. Table 1 presents the mean and the standard 
deviation of the respondents’ self-perceived level of competence at performing 67 employability skills. The mean 
for each of the skills included in this study was above 2.00 indicating that, on average, the respondents’ perceived 
themselves to have at least a moderate level of competence at performing all the employability skills. Fifty-five of 
the employability skills had a mean of greater than 2.50 indicating that the respondents’ perceived themselves to 
have major competence in more than 82% of the employability skills.
The most highly rated skills were “ability to work independently” (
M =
2.84), “giving direction and 
guidance to others” (
M =
2.75), “gaining new knowledge from everyday experiences” (
M =
2.75), “maintaining a 
positive attitude” (
M =
2.75), “supervising the work of others” (
M =
2.73), “coordinating the work of peers” (
M =
2.73), “establishing good rapport with subordinates” (
M =
2.73), “relating well with supervisors” (
M =
2.72), 
“functioning at an ptimal level of performance” (
M =
2.72), “delegating work to subordinates” (
M =
2.72), 
“working well with fellow employees” (
M =
2.71), and “setting priorities” (
M =
2.71).

---