Many new graduates in the US lack the broad range of skills or fall short of the standard that blue-chip employers are looking for. (Photo : REUTERS/Keith Bedford)
Many of the new college graduates in the United States are not kickstarting their careers. A study by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) that gathered views from 400 private and non-profit organizations revealed that employers find today's graduates ill-prepared for the real-life work setting.
Nearly all employers surveyed believed students ought to have learned from experiences how to solve problems with a global perspective, or with consideration of multicultural issues. However, majority lack the skills that can make employers take notice, adding to the number of unemployed or underemployed. The situation is replicated in other parts of the world.
A mere 25 percent of the employers surveyed considered recent graduates satisfactory in terms of innovation and creativity, AACU uncovered. However, these employers still prefer to hire workers who possess a "broad range of skills" and who can think out of the box.
Graduates also need to work on developing critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills. Grit, thoroughness, impact, polish, a natural curiosity for relevant matters, teamwork and ownership will get the job done, as the job placement program Koru gathered.
In addition, adaptability and communication skill are the key qualities employers today are also looking for, Forbes reported.
One proponent of a national movement that helps young people land careers cited reliable, punctual, customer-oriented individuals who can complete tasks with ease and quality as the type of personnel employers are on the lookout for.
Unfortunately, only a few are able to show these, much less exhibit other skills like the ability to adapt to new situations. The AAC&U study underscores that employers today are looking beyond what is written on resumes, and focusing on a variety of skills and traits new hires exhibit.
