Internship Experiences and their Influence on the Career Readiness of Hospitality Management Students

Abstract

This study examines at how internships influence the career readiness of hospitality management students at Pangasinan State University – San Carlos Campus for the school year 2023–2024. The study used a descriptive quantitative method to look at the satisfaction of 90 students with their internships, the influence of stakeholders, and the overall role of internships in preparing graduates ready for employment. The results showed that students were very satisfied, particularly with the hands-on training, mentorship, and development of technical skills. Collaboration between stakeholders, especially between schools and internship hosts training establishments, was also found to have significant impact on the satisfied students were. Internship also had a significant connection to increased professional confidence, clearer career goals, and enhanced skills that make you more employable. Despite the program has some positive aspects, it needs to do better in areas like giving students more international exposure as well as monitoring on them while they are interning. The study concludes that well-structured internships are instrumental in bridging the gap between theoretical learning and industry practice. It recommends strengthening stakeholder collaboration, enhancing international internship linkages, and implementing strategies to support student career development and global competitiveness in hospitality.