ERIC Number: EJ1391269
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 29
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0963-9284
EISSN: EISSN-1468-4489
Accounting Graduate Employability: Employer Perspectives on Skills and Attributes of International Graduates
de Lange, Paul; O'Connell, Brendan T.; Tharapos, Meredith; Beatson, Nicola; Oosthuizen, Heinrich
Accounting Education, v32 n3 p249-277 2023
This study investigates employers' perceptions of, and recruitment approaches for, accounting professionals using a survey of small to medium sized public accounting firms in Australia. We find that firms experience significant difficulties in sourcing high quality graduates and tend to hire a low proportion of international students. To explain the latter, we employ Bourdieu's notions of "habitus," together with the concepts of social and cultural capital, to examine the challenges faced by international students. A key finding of our study is that many international students are at a disadvantage in seeking professional employment because of a lack of "habitus," that is, a 'feel for the game' and an understanding of what is needed to succeed in the accounting field. Our findings add to the accounting literature by highlighting that demonstrated potential to excel at business development activities and possession of strong social and cultural capital were paramount in obtaining employment.
Descriptors: Accounting, Employment Potential, Study Abroad, Foreign Students, Employer Attitudes, Cultural Capital, Social Capital, Graduates, Personnel Selection, Barriers, Business Administration Education, Correlation, Job Skills, Foreign Countries
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A