The effect of study abroad/internships on students in the job market

Abstract

The following is a detailed report of a primary research study done at Ball State University during the 2012 -2013 school year. This study was designed to reveal perceived personality differences in students with differing experiences and backgrounds upon their entrance into the job market. The study was entitled "The Effect of Study Abroad / Internships on Students in the Job Market". The study polled 90 students studying Human Resources in the Miller College of Business. It requested that they place themselves into the shoes of a hiring manager, evaluate a resume, and fill out an evaluation form. The results of this form were then entered into SPSS, a tool for statistical analysis. The results from the statistical analysis were mean scores for each candidate in the areas of individuality, organization, knowledge, adaptability, sociability, determination, awareness, involvement, experience, and well-roundedness. There were also mean scores for the evaluators' likeliness to hire, interview, or reject the candidate. The statistically significant conclusion that this study drew was the following: "Students who had a study abroad experience, as compared to those without any additional experience as well as those with an internship experience, were perceived by students studying hiring practices in the job market to be more adaptable."