The effect of university studies on accounting student's workplace expectations

Abstract

High turnover rates and withdrawal behaviours amongst recently employed staff have seen to be a problem for many public accounting firms. The loss of job satisfaction has been linked to these high turnover rates and withdrawal behaviours. One factor that has influenced job satisfaction is the degree to which the expectations of new employees are met by the reality that confronts the new employees in the workplace. For many newly employed accountants the main determinator of expectations is their university study. This study looks at the effect of university studies on the expectations of accounting students. A survey was used to identify any changes in expectations that occurred during the students studies and these expectations were compared reality that newly employed accountants perceived they faced. The results indicate that students commence their studies with expectations that are similar to the reality the accountants perceive but the students expectations are lowered during their studies. Meaning they may experience a positive reality shock when the commence work. Possible negative effects of this lowering of expectations may have some negative effects. Using the Met Expectations Hypothesis as an informing framework this paper suggest that this reduction in expectations may lead to withdrawal behaviour within the public accounting firm as well as students not participating in their studies fully. The onus is on accounting educators to identify where expectations are being eroded and put in place strategies that will improve the students learning experience.