Hospitality Fresh Graduates’ Competency and Hotel Job Offer Decisions

Abstract

Fresh graduates are the future generation that will keep the hotel industry regain its ground in this uncertain pandemic era. Hotels need to recruit prospective employees with desired skills set which could increase their performance in delivering the best service to their guest. This study was conducted to help fresh graduates to see what is the element of competency that hotels look into in deciding to hire a new employee. The elements of competency which are communication, cognitive, leadership, problem-solving, and human relation was examined to identify their effects the hotel job offer decisions in Malaysia. Data required for this study was collected through self-administered questionnaires to 205 hotel human resources (HR) managers and personnel involved in selecting and recruiting employees. The data gathered were analysed using SPSS statistical tool, and was found that all elements of competency were positively related to HR's job offer decisions. The study highlights the element of problem-solving skills as the important element of competency that HR managers expects from fresh graduates.