INTERNSHIP SATISFACTION AND ITS INFLUENCE ON CAREER DECISION-MAKING AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Internship experiences have become an integral part of higher education programs, offering students a preview of real-world working environments. This study investigates the relationship between internship satisfaction and career decision-making self-efficacy among final-year university students in Malaysia. Drawing on the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Theory (CDSE), the research aims to explore how elements such as supervisor support, meaningful task assignments, and organizational culture impact students’ clarity and confidence in making career decisions post-internship. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 300 internship completers from public universities, and the data were analyzed using single regression. Results indicate that internship satisfaction significantly predicts career decision-making ability, especially when students report high levels of mentoring and task ownership. These findings suggest that internship quality is not only essential for skill development but also plays a pivotal role in shaping students’ career trajectories. The study contributes to internship program design and offers practical insights for university-industry collaboration.