Improving accounting undergraduate employability prospects through career development activities

The new knowledge economy needs accounting graduates with flexible mindsets and transferable skill sets, capable of innovating and adapting to dynamic work environments. However, many Australian employers are deeming new graduates as not work-ready, often citing lack of relevant skills and real world experience as serious shortcomings. To narrow the employability gap, universities must develop learning and teaching practices to encourage generic skills development alongside developments in discipline specialisations. This paper reports on how one Australian university used a Career Development Learning activity to facilitate future employability preparation and development in first year business students in an Accounting course as part of careers education. Through personal student journal reflections, a vast majority of students found the experiential activity beneficial in helping them prepare for future employability. Through this activity, they learned about the skills required for successful careers and encouraged them to identify practical ways to improve their employability prospects.