Business Leaders Say They’re Underwhelmed by the College Graduates They Hire

Many university graduates don’t measure up to the expectations of business leaders who hire them, according to the results of a survey released today. The online survey, commissioned by Woods Bagot, an architecture and design firm. asked 500 American business leaders to evaluate the quality of their work force, specifically employees hired out of college or graduate school with no prior work experience. The respondents, echoing a similar survey released last fall, said that although graduates have some of the skills needed for an entry-level job, they are more well versed in technology than in directly applicable skills like solving problems and communicating. Some respondents blamed institutions of higher education for not adequately preparing students with the practical skills needed to succeed in the business world.