Preparing Students for Careers in the Leisure, Recreation, and Tourism Field

This study attempted to examine the similarities and differences between the leisure, recreation, and tourism (LRT) students' expectations and the experiences of people who work in the LRT field, and whether the LRT programs prepare students for successful careers in the LRT field using a phenomenological approach. Findings suggested that there are more similarities between students' expectations and experiences of people who work in the field than differences. However, findings also suggested that students who are planning on working in this field will need to possess a variety of skill sets and behavioral adaptabilities to compete for present and future career opportunities due to the ever-evolving nature of the field. Findings indicated that the most important element of students' job preparation and search is the ability to deal with change.