Hayaller-hayatlar: Turizm öğrencileri ne umdu ne buldu?

This study aims to examine the career perceptions and attitudes of tourism students and graduates, identifying the differences between their expectations before graduation and their experiences in the workforce. A quantitative approach was initially used to assess students’ views on the tourism industry. The results then guided a second phase of semi-structured interviews. The quantitative sample consisted of 201 students with no internship or professional experience and 97 graduates who had worked in the sector for at least one year. In the qualitative phase, 12 students and 12 graduates were interviewed. Findings indicate that students initially view the sector optimistically, but graduates’ attitudes change due to unfavourable working conditions. Low wages, irregular hours, and limited merit-based promotion opportunities drive employees away from the industry. Additionally, negative perceptions of managerial practices become more pronounced after graduation. The study highlights that career sustainability in tourism depends on education, job security, effective management practices, and opportunities for advancement. These findings underscore the need for tourism education programs to reflect industry realities and for strategies to enhance workforce retention.