Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management

How To Evaluatejob Applicants Possessinghotel-Industry Licenses -- Anassessmentof Department of Hospitality Graduates In Taiwan
Yen-yen Chen, Chia-Li Lin, Chao-cheng Chung

Abstract
University Departments offering programs to obtaina Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation Management are now proliferating throughout Taiwan at an alarming rate. While the names of these degree programs may differ, the nature of their content does not. Each program duly advertises that their teaching approachespossessunique features which increase the complexity of differentiation for the students selecting a school to enter. Meanwhile, the respective industry has grown concerned about the overall quality of education that these programs offer due to the lack of informational transparency and unsubstantiated claims.This study compares the relative changes in the number of diplomas issued by the Taiwanese Ministry of Education (MOE) and the amount of licensure issued by the Taiwanese Ministry of Labor (MOL), as complemented by surveys. A deduction has been made that, from the viewpoint of the industry, the relative importance of a job applicant’spossession of certifications and/or licenses has declinedyear-on-year.The following conclusions have resulted:1.) Practical work/internship experience is deemed to be of more importance than certifications; 2.) Linguistic certifications are preferable to hospitality certifications; and, 3.) Certifications have no appreciable impact on the starting salary of a job applicant. This study suggests that academic institutions offering such programs should pay closer attention to current employment market trends. Clear differentiation of program offerings is encouraged to assist potential candidates in determining unique departmental or institutional characteristics and strengths instead of engaging in the never-ending competition of near-meaningless certifications.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jthm.v3n2a7