Navigating Industry Exposure: Experiences, Challenges, and Learning Outcomes of Hospitality Management Students in On-The-Job Training

On-the-job training (OJT) is a vital component of hospitality education, bridging classroom learning with real-world industry experience and preparing students for professional careers. This study explored the workplace experiences of Hospitality Management students during their OJT, focusing on daily tasks, challenges, learning outcomes, and coping strategies. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed, combining quantitative survey data and qualitative insights from in-depth interviews with 51 fourth-year students of Columban College, Inc. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis and integrated to provide a holistic understanding of the OJT experience. Findings revealed that most students were assigned to local hotels, primarily in housekeeping and food and beverage departments. Students expressed high satisfaction with skill development and workplace exposure, showing improvements in technical competencies, communication, and adaptability. However, supervision, mentorship, and application of academic knowledge were moderately rated, indicating gaps between theory and practice. Challenges included heavy workloads, work-related stress, communication issues, limited support, and adjustment difficulties. Despite this, students demonstrated resilience through seeking guidance, maintaining positivity, and adapting to workplace demands. Overall, OJT positively influenced knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes. The study recommends enhancing supervision, aligning curricula with industry needs, and strengthening support systems to improve OJT effectiveness.