Self-Image, Career Development and Job Choice on Tourism Industry in Malaysia: A Perception of Students

Abstract

Students imagine jobs in the tourism sector with boring jobs, long working hours, unsafe work, low social status, unsatisfactory promotions, low wages, inadequate benefits, and poor physical working conditions. This study aims to determine student perceptions of self-image, career development, and job choices in the tourism industry. This study was a quantitative descriptive method. Quantitative research is intended to measure the problem, how well, and to whom a particular problem applies. This study involved 162 D3 Tourism Management study programs, Merlimau Polytechnic, Melaka, Malaysia, based on Krejcie and Morgan tables. Data was obtained using a questionnaire survey and observation. The questionnaire consists of Parts A, B, and C as instruments and measurements with a five-point Linkert scale. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23 was used to analyze data and information in research. The results showed that the value of self-image was 3.60, career development was 4.12, and job choice in the tourism industry was 3.80. Students' perceptions of self-image, career development, and job choices are high. Students feel the influence of research variables can attract interest to work in the tourism industry in the future.