Internships are widely recognized as a foundation for students’ employability for tourism and hospitality programs. However, most research emphasizes student perspectives, with limited attention to employers’ evaluations. This study addresses this gap by examining employers’ perceptions of interns’ performance, specifically focusing on soft skills. Data were collected from 5,653 employers who assessed students enrolled in an internship course at a stand-alone College of Hospitality Management at a large university in the United States between the years of 2016 and 2024. The model, empirically tested with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling, assessed the influence of seven soft skills (communication, analytical ability, information application, emotional intelligence, organization, teamwork, leadership) upon employers’ evaluations of work habits, and their subsequent impact on overall internship performance. Organization/planning, information application, and teamwork emerged as the strongest predictors. Results contribute to theoretical knowledge in experiential learning, advancement in the hospitality education curriculum, and internship programs design.
Pratt et al. (Fri,) studied this question.