Why College Grads Aren’t Ready for the Real World
Appealing Pool
65% of surveyed employers said they plan to hire recent college graduates this year, up from 57% last year.
Lucrative 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 Effort
21% do not feel academic institutions are adequately preparing students for roles within their organizations.
How 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 Balance
38% said they need more candidates with the right blend of tech and soft skills.
How 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 Training
15% said there isn’t enough focus on internships.
How Colleges Fall Short: Change Management
14% said tech is changing too quickly for academic institutions to keep up.
Biggest Skills Lacking, Part I
Interpersonal/people skills: 52%, Problem-solving: 46%, Oral communications: 41%, Leadership: 40%, Written communications: 38%
Biggest Skills Lacking, Part II
Teamwork: 37%, Creative thinking: 36%, Project management: 26%, Research and analysis: 16%, Math: 15%
