Title:
ISSUES ON CAREER CHOICES THE ACCOUNTING STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE

Authors:
Zi-Xin Lim, Teck-Heang Lee and Teng-Tenk Teoh, Melissa

Abstract:
Through fifteen (15) semi-structured interviews, the study aims to: (i) identify what are the key factors that influence accounting students’ career choices (ii) examine how well the universities have guided the students’ in seeking their career path, and (iii) examine accounting students’ readiness in entering the job market. The study found that the key factors that influence accounting students career choices include: (i) salary, (ii) working environment, (iii) career development, (iv) job interest, (v) influence of third parties, (vi) working hours and (vii) company locations. The study also found that many of the interviewees are less satisfied with the performance of university in guiding them to identify their career path. The accounting students opined that their universities have given too much of emphasis on theoretical instead practical knowledge. They suggested that the university should be imparting more practical skills such as the use accounting and auditing software. This study revealed that many of the participants are not job ready and their level of confidence are relatively low and this study also sees the need to enhance various soft skills of the accounting students.

Keywords:
career choices, job readiness, university performance, soft skills.