Students’ Readiness for a Career in Tourism – SOS Model of Awareness: Self-Awareness, Opportunity and Strategy

Abstract

The individual career, defined by all positions, strategies and changes that occurr in a lifetime, depends heavily on educational and social experiences that are preceding it or accompaning it. Career planning is particularly important for both the individual and the organization. A realistic career plan makes the individual perceive opportunities in relation to his own possibilities; he will be more motivated and the likelyhood to be satisfied will be much higher. In this context, the paper presents the results of a study carried out on successive series of students enrolled in the last year of study of a masters program in tourism at the Faculty of Commerce, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest. The research examined over two academic years (2011-2013) the extent to which students were aware of themselves in terms of a career in tourism. Three dimensions of awareness were followed: the self, the strategy required to manage a successful career and the opportunity to develop a career in tourism. The results are of interest not only to students and universities that offer such programs, but also to employers. One important conclusion is that professional counseling centers should receive more attention. It could be a joint project of universities and business.

Keywords

• career
• tourism
• self
• oportunity
• strategy