Abstract
M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
Purpose – The aim of this study was to uncover the factors that entice Generation Y (millennials) who are holders of Technology programme degrees or diplomas in Metallurgical Engineering to change careers once they graduate.
Design/Methodology/Approach – Purposive sampling was used to gather data for the study from 262 respondents using an online and field survey. For the field survey, data were obtained from self-administered questionnaires, completed by currently registered Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) Metallurgical engineering students at two universities of technology within the Gauteng province in South Africa.
Findings – The results of this study indicate that Generation Y Metallurgical engineering technicians and technologists are leaving their core discipline or intending to do so. The results further indicate the existence of an expectations gap; that is, a discrepancy between what the respondents encounter as their present reality within the Metallurgical engineering work environment versus what they expected to encounter within the Metallurgical engineering career while studying or making career decisions.
Research limitations – Information to quantify the population for this study was not easily available, as a consequence the results of this study would not be sufficient to generalise to the entire population (Generation Y South African Metallurgical engineering graduates); in essence only general trends may be established from the resulting findings.
Originality/Value –This paper will help engineering managers understand how to attract and retain the so called ‘millennium employees’ in the Metallurgical engineering field.