Management student perceptions of professional career development education

Universities can provide necessary assistance to young graduates about to embark upon their careers by helping them to identify employable skills and enhance their understanding of contemporary career management practices. Responding to the relatively poor employment outcomes of university graduates, Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia has embarked upon a strategy of investment in career development for all students. One part of this strategy is to implement a career development subject as an elective for all students. Evaluation results show that management students perceive the subject to be extremely valuable to their career prospects. They also report benefits accruing from self-reflection and long term planning, giving them a deeper understanding of themselves and their motivations, and an enhanced understanding of their aspirations within the contemporary workplace