Studentsâ Understanding of the Job Market and the Resources Available toThem to Land Their First Job: An Example

Abstract

The purpose of this small scale project was to gain a better understanding of the aspirations of accounting majors. A survey was taken of students in the auditing class which is the last required class for accounting majors. The survey consisted of 15 questions. These questions may be grouped as ones measuring the students’ knowledge of the market for accountants, their regional preference and their use of the available resources to assist in the search for employment. Of the students about one-half indicated that they planned to take the CPA exam and the others did not. For the CMA exam only one-third expected to take the exam. They are aware of the resources available to help them, but they either underutilize or completely ignore them. Many surveys have shown that compensation is the overriding consideration in job choice. In the current survey, proximity to family was equally, if not more, important to the students. For future studies family seems like an interesting variable to include until some understanding about its influence is achieved.