Preparation for Career among Office Technology and Management (OTM) Students of College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria

Abstract

This research investigated preparation for career among Office Technology and Management students in College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive design of the case study type. The population for the year studied was made up of all 39 graduating students offering Office Technology and Management in College of Education, Ikere Ekiti. The population was manageable, hence, the entire population was studied as the sample. A structured questionnaire, validated by experts and subjected to a reliability test with a coefficient of 0.87 using Crombach alpha method, was used for data collection. Data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation for research questions and t-test statistics for testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that students have adequate knowledge of office career skills and also possess the required skills for the world of work. Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that knowledge of essential career skills and possessing the skills are vital index for preparing for career as lack or inadequate preparation will lead to unemployability. It was recommended, among others, that institution-industry collaboration should be enhanced in order to fix up well-informed and equipped students for employment after graduation; students should be encouraged and motivated to develop positive attitude towards self-employment rather than waiting for the non-existent while collar jobs.