It’s almost natural for new graduates to believe that they are fit and ready for the workplace right out of college, but a new study suggests that hiring managers do not agree.
The study, conducted by Payscale.com and Future Workplace, surveyed 14,167 recent and imminent grads, along with 63,924 managers. It ultimately found that while 87 percent of new college graduates believe they are prepared for the workforce, only about half of hiring managers agree.
The most interesting finding within the report is the fact that grads aren’t perceived poorly because they are believed to lack the technical skills to perform the job adequately, but rather that they lack other fundamental skills that college doesn’t necessarily impart. These skills include items such as communication and the ability to work in a team.
As far as proficiencies are concerned, hiring managers cited new grads as most lacking critical thinking and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, writing proficiency, and public speaking skills.
Although employers expect to hire 5.2 more grads from the Class of 2016 than 2015, this does not guarantee you a job as a new grad. Having all the intangibles, such as personal and communicative skills, can help give you a leg up.
On a final note, you may want to see if you can work under a millennial manager. 55% of these younger managers are more likely to believe that new grads are prepared for the workplace, compared to 47% of Generation X managers and 48% of baby boomers.
