Most college students agree that a job after graduation
is the most important outcome of a college education. The problem is, too many
believe their college and university isn’t doing a very good job of preparing
them for that job.
A survey of 770 adults, conducted by Stockton
University, Galloway Township, NJ, found that just 35% of recent grads said
colleges did “extremely well” in getting them ready for the job market. Nearly
80% viewed internships as the most important factor to success in their career
and 84% said an internship was very important in developing a career and
finding a job, according to a report in eCampus News.
While 73% said college was worth the cost, 31% added
that more hands-on, practical experience would have made the value of their
higher education even greater. The group identified problem-solving (84%) as
most important skill learned in college, followed by communicating orally
(83%), understanding and gathering information (79%), writing clearly (79%),
and using technology (77%).
Employers listed problem-solving (32%), teamwork (21%),
and writing and speaking skills (19%) as the top skills job-seekers learn in
college.