This project is intended to find a correlation

between hiring practices in the wedding/event

industry and the expectations of students enrolled in

college majoring in the weddings and/or events.

The basis of this discovery is to develop, define and

test the model illustrating the relationship. The data

analyzed from two surveys resulted that there is a

significance value between the two variables. To

decipher the framework further, research has shown

to have significant factors that implement that the

relationship is strengthened due to the economic

condition.

Abstract

Methodology

Model

Testing & Results

Implications

There is a direct correlation between what students

graduating from a college or university expect upon

graduation in the workforce and the hiring practices

of wedding and event business owners. It is safe to

say that in a prospering and surplus economy the

relationship between the two variables is

strengthened. Both students and professionals found

that the economic conditions played a role with the

probability of employment as a whole (whether they

are hiring or looking to be hired). Due to the

research conducted from the survey and the

significance tests, it can also be concluded that

McKeown, (2011) was correct in saying that students

believed that they would indeed get good jobs and

as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2009),

employers (professionals) find it favorable to hire

candidates who have graduated from colleges

and/or universities within their industry.

Conclusion

References Blanchard, S. (2005). Meeting and Convention Planners. Occupational Outlook Quarterly. (18-23).

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2009). Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos298.htm

McKeown, T., Lindorff, M. (2011). The graduate job search process – a lesson in persistence rather than good career management?. Education + Training, 53(4), 310 – 320.

Qualtrics Survey

Two Data Sets (Professionals & Students)

13 Questions Per Survey

Distributed via Facebook; Twitter; LinkedIn; Email

Professionals were asked

Business size

View on Economy and Effects on Hiring

Likelihood to Hire College Graduates

Demographics

Students were asked

Status within University

Major

Expectations about Employment after Graduation

Interest within the Events/Wedding Industry

Demographics

“Student T-Test” was developed in order to test

variables’ relationships (IV & DV)

There is in fact correlation between the expectations of

future college graduates and the hiring practices of

event/wedding businesses

Pearson Chi-Square Test used to test MoV influence

There is also strong reason to believe that the condition

of the U.S. economy can strengthen that relationship

By: Zalika Woods zalika.woods@temple.edu

For more information

IV = Independent Variable

DV = Dependent Variable

MoV = Moderator Variable

In conclusion, the event and wedding planning

industry is one that will continue to see growth

(Blanchard, 2005). Education is a key element that

can contribute to one’s success of finding

employment within the industry. Many employers

prefer to hire those applicants who have completed

their degree and studies from an institution offering

a wedding/event program.

IV DV

MoV IV = Expectations

DV = Hiring Practices

MoV = Economy