Employment Preference of Undergraduate Accounting Students in Botswana: Perceptional Analysis of Practitioners and Students

Abstract

This exploratory and descriptive study analyzed factors influencing employment choice of accounting graduates in higher education institutions in Botswana. Graduates’ preference to type of employer and size of employer were also analyzed. Data was collected through a survey of randomly selected 120 final year undergraduate accounting students from four randomly samples private higher education institutions in Botswana. Also, 60 accounting practitioners were purposively selected for data collection for comparing their perceptions with students on employment preference factors. Data analysis was accomplished using descriptive and inferential statistical tools of mean, frequency, ranking and Chi Square test. Students ranked flexible work schedule and work-life balance, initial salary and, opportunity for advancement as the three most important employment factors while practitioners ranked initial salary, opportunity for advancement and employer reputation and prestige as the three most important employment factors . It was therefore, recommended that employers should not only establish a good reputation but also, should create a conducive socio-economic environment by combining flexible working life with good salary offer to attract and retain employees. Students ranked private accounting jobs as their top preferred jobs. Students preferred large size employers over medium and small size employers. Reasons for preferring private accounting jobs and, large size employers should be investigated enabling accounting employers and, especially small and medium size employers, respectively in formulating appropriate strategies for attracting prospective employees in accounting profession.

Analysis for Employment Preference of Undergraduate Accounting Students in Oman

“…In this study, it was surmise that the students preferred large sized employers to medium. Small size employers and good salaries was another factor in this study which match the findings of good salary and employer's reputation [21].…”

Reasons To Choose Chartered Accountant As Profession

“…Therefore, hypothesis 1 supported. Furthermore, the result supported with previous study by Zyl & Villiers (2011) and Baliyan & Baliyan (2016) which state that it is significant contribution to predict students' preferences to be chartered accountant but contradict with Dibabe et al (2015). Table 05 shows that the extrinsic factor outcome of p=0.000 and Correlation Coefficient of 0.696 (69.6%) against preference to be chartered accountant which is below 0.05.…”

“…Job satisfaction rated as the most influential factor to students in choosing their career as chartered accountant (Zyl & Villiers, 2011). Intrinsic factors, which are flexible work schedule and work life balance, also consider as a factor that affecting students preferences in choosing career (Baliyan & Baliyan, 2016). However, the finding by Dibabe, Wubie, & Wondmagegn (2015) states that interest toward accounting and students' ability has no significant effect to choose accounting as their career option.…”

Influencers of University Students’ Career Decision

“…Career decision making is a lifelong process and it shapes one's future career (Baliyan & Baliyan, 2016;Mansor & Tan, 2009). Most people make their career decisions by balancing their interests and values with opportunities, cost of pursuing those job opportunities, as well as their talents.…”

“…Career choice is not influenced by only individual factors. It is also influenced by various factors including economic, cultural, social, and environmental (Baliyan & Baliyan, 2016). According to Venable (Venable, 2011 as cited in Baliyan & Baliyan, 2016), the career choice that individuals makes are unique to their own situation which are determined by a combination and interaction of various factors.…”