International Journal of Business, Management and Commerce (IJBMC)

This paper focuses on prospective accounting employers’ hiring criteria and expectations of potential employees. What characteristics are they looking for and how does possession of and online degree influence their hiring decisions? This is a critical issue faced by both potential degree holders and employers. With most universities now offering online courses, and in some cases, online degrees, how do employers who hire these graduates value this educational experience? To help answer this question, an exploratory study using in-depth interviews with prospective accounting employers was completed to gain insight into their hiring criteria and their perceptions of online degree holders as the basis of a larger, more comprehensive study. Results of these interviews and the resulting insights into employers’ hiring expectations are discussed.