Date of Award

6-1992

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. John Geisler

Second Advisor

Dr. Thelma Urbick

Third Advisor

Dr. Dave Cowden

Abstract

The relevant body of research and literature applicable to this area emphasized the importance of job readiness among college students. Job seeking skills program can be rendered more effective and efficient by using a combination of several behavioral procedures.

The primary purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of a job search skills training program on the job readiness of the undergraduate sponsored Malaysian students enrolled at Western Michigan University. Specifically the problem centered on the ability of the treatment program to help Malaysian students to become clearer and to increase their understanding about the importance of self-awareness, job analysis and interview preparation on job readiness.

The sample consisted of 98 subjects. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) job search training group that served as an experimental group, or (2) a no treatment group that served as a control group. The Job Search Readiness Instrument (JSRI) (Schlossman, 1977) was used to collect posttest data. The instrument consists of three important components of job readiness: (1) self-awareness, (2) job analysis, and (3) interview preparation. Besides this instrument, the subjects also responded to the demographic questionnaire and at the end of the training workshop, members of the experimental group were asked to fill out the workshop evaluation questionnaire.

The t test for two independent samples was used to determine whether the criterion means for the experimental group and control differed significantly. The results of this investigation indicated that the training workshop for the experimental group was effective in providing those students with job readiness skills. Therefore, the findings strongly support that undergraduate students can significantly increase their job readiness scores by being systematically trained with a job search skills training program. The results of this investigation clearly established the need for replication of the research in different settings such as Malaysian students in local universities and in other countries. It is important to expand the training program so its effect on different populations could be compared and evaluated.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

Included in

Counseling Commons

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