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SALT LAKE CITY — Recent surveys show that the majority of college grads don't think they've been adequately prepared for the workplace. So, what can universities do to change this?
According to an NBC News article, 57 percent of college students feel internships are important in helping them learn skills that would be needed in the workforce; however, about the same amount feel they're not getting those internships.
There are several reasons why a student may feel under-prepared for life in the workplace. University of Utah Career Services Director Stan Inman says not all of the reasons can be blamed on schooling.
"A lot of it really depends on the employer and how much they do in the ‘on-boarding' process of a new hire," he said.
Inman says if students are lacking confidence in their abilities, it's important that the university gives them some. He says confidence is critical, so Career Services works with students to recognize how the skills they learn in school are marketable.
"They need to learn how to talk about those in a way an employer will recognize," he said.
Even after the student accepts a job offer, career counselors still have work to do. Inman says they have to teach students that the first six months of work can make or break them.
"We're trying to teach students to understand how to make the most of that first year or that first six months (by) being able to respond to challenges and how to see new opportunities," he said.
The online survey by internships.com, polled 1,345 college students across the country.
