Graduates’ Expectations versus the Reality at the Start of their Careers: the Effect on the Level of Employee Engagement

Abstract

What students learn in school and in their early lives influences the way they perceive life in the future. Once students graduate, their education has left them with a certain view, standards and expectations about their future career. Graduates expectations have often been found to exceed reality and therefor have a detrimental effect on the level of organizational commitment (Mabey, 1986). This research answers the question: To what extend do the socialization processes and the on boarding program at ING Bank meet the needs and expectations of both the organization and the individuals for whom it is designed? An online questionnaire is used in order to gain insight into the attitude ING employees have towards their former engagement with their studies, their current engagement with ING Bank and their attitude towards their on boarding program when they entered the organization. In total 24 participants took part in the study. The participants are all employees at ING Bank Headquarters in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The results show the younger group of employees being more satisfied with the on boarding program than their older colleagues. Besides the research question the conclusion can be drawn there is a willingness to participate in the process to improve the socialization process at ING Bank. Practical advices have been formulated by the respondents which show motivation and engagement and a willingness to participate in improving these processes at ING Bank.