Why College Grads Aren't Ready for the Real World | CIO Insight

Why College Grads Aren’t Ready for the Real World

May 7, 2015
1 minute read

Why College Grads Aren’t Ready for the Real World

Appealing PoolAppealing Pool

65% of surveyed employers said they plan to hire recent college graduates this year, up from 57% last year.

Lucrative OfferLucrative Offer

One-third will offer higher pay to these hires than they did last year, and one in four will pay $50,000 or more.

Incomplete EffortIncomplete Effort

21% do not feel academic institutions are adequately preparing students for roles within their organizations.

How Colleges Fall Short: Real NeedHow Colleges Fall Short: Real Need

46% said there’s too much emphasis on book learning instead of real-world learning.

How Colleges Fall Short: Proper BalanceHow Colleges Fall Short: Proper Balance

38% said they need more candidates with the right blend of tech and soft skills.

How Colleges Fall Short: Learning CurveHow Colleges Fall Short: Learning Curve

22% said they’d like for colleges to better prepare students for the growing complexities of today’s entry-level roles.

How Colleges Fall Short: On-the-Job TrainingHow Colleges Fall Short: On-the-Job Training

15% said there isn’t enough focus on internships.

How Colleges Fall Short: Change ManagementHow Colleges Fall Short: Change Management

14% said tech is changing too quickly for academic institutions to keep up.

Biggest Skills Lacking, Part IBiggest Skills Lacking, Part I

Interpersonal/people skills: 52%, Problem-solving: 46%, Oral communications: 41%, Leadership: 40%, Written communications: 38%

Biggest Skills Lacking, Part IIBiggest Skills Lacking, Part II

Teamwork: 37%, Creative thinking: 36%, Project management: 26%, Research and analysis: 16%, Math: 15%

Dennis McCafferty

Dennis McCafferty is a contributor to CIO Insight. He covers topics such as IT leadership, IT strategy, collaboration, and IT for businesses.

CIO Insight Logo

CIO Insight offers thought leadership and best practices in the IT security and management industry while providing expert recommendations on software solutions for IT leaders. It is the trusted resource for security professionals who need to maintain regulatory compliance for their teams and organizations. CIO Insight is an ideal website for IT decision makers, systems integrators and administrators, and IT managers to stay informed about emerging technologies, software developments and trends in the IT security and management industry.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.