Citation:

Ismi Darmastuti, Vaula Martarida Sinaga. "Enhancing Students' Work Readiness through Internship Experience" International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 145-150, 2026. Crossref. http://doi.org/10.56472/25835238/IRJEMS-V5I6P115

Abstract:

This study aims to analyze the direct effect of internship experience on work readiness, the effect of work motivation on work readiness, the effect of internship experience on work motivation, and the mediating role of work motivation in the relationship between internship experience and work readiness. The study was conducted among students from the 2022 cohort of the Faculty of Engineering at Diponegoro University. This research employed a quantitative approach. Data were collected from 200 respondents through a questionnaire that met validity and reliability criteria. The data were analyzed using SmartPLS version 4.1.1.8 to examine relationships among variables and to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings show that internship experience has a positive and significant effect on work readiness. Internship experience also has a positive and significant effect on work motivation, while work motivation 0068as a positive and significant effect on work readiness. These findings indicate that internship experience can improve students' work-readiness, both directly and indirectly through higher work motivation. This study is expected to contribute to the development of internship programs to strengthen students' work readiness at the Faculty of Engineering, Diponegoro University.

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Keywords:

Internship Experience, Work Motivation, Work Readiness.