Today’s workplace looks dramatically different than it did just three years ago, when Bentley's first survey of employers gave college graduates a “C” for workplace preparedness. Now, 78 percent of employers say recent graduates ARE prepared for success in the job market. So what has changed? Bentley recently commissioned a new survey of 1,000+ employers, educators, current students and recent graduates to see how the labor market has evolved since 2013, how higher education has responded, and what is necessary for the next generation of graduates to thrive.

1. DO TODAY’S GRADUATES
HAVE WHAT IT TAKES
TO SUCCEED?

2. SHARE:
2
THAN THEY THINK
GRADS ARE MORE READY
THAN THEY THINK
STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADS ARE
WORRIED THEY DON’T HAVE THE SKILLS
AND EXPERIENCE EMPLOYERS WANT.
EMPLOYERS SAY: STUDENTS, DON’T WORRY.
Three years ago, 54% of corporate recruiters and 59% of
business decision makers gave recent college grads a “C” when
it came to preparedness for their first job. Fast forward to today,
and according to Bentley University’s most recent survey, 78%
of employers feel that recent grads are prepared for pursuing a
career after college.
WHAT’S CHANGED?
20162016
of employers feel that recent
grads are prepared for pursuing
a career after college
78%
20132013
59%
of business decision
makers gave recent
college grads a “C”

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THE SHIFT?
WHAT
CAUSED
THE SHIFT?
EDUCATORS ARE ADJUSTING THEIR TEACHING
METHODS TO KEEP PACE WITH CHANGES IN THE
COMPETITIVE WORKPLACE
91%
of educators cite new
emerging technologies as
motivating factors
88%
of educators say
changes are due to job
market trends
3

4. SHARE:
4
& GROUP PROJECTS
INTERNSHIPS, FIELD WORK
& GROUP PROJECTS
EDUCATORS REPORT IN THE PAST 5 TO 10
YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A SHIFT IN
(AND OUT OF) THE CLASSROOM
THERE IS A GREATER EMPHASIS ON
TECHNOLOGY AND ENHANCING
JOB-SPECIFIC SKILLS
have seen a greater focus on outside of classroom
learning such as fieldwork75%
have moved toward course offerings that include a
combination of classroom learning and relevant
fieldwork
focus on group projects, promoting teamwork and
collaboration
73%
73%
are more focused on technology67%
are more focused on enhancing job-specific skills57%
SHARE:
4

5. 5
A NECESSITYSOFT SKILLS ARE A NECESSITY
THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE IDEAS, WORK WELL AS PART OF A TEAM,
AND THINK CREATIVELY CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED
92%
of employers rank critical thinking skills
and the ability to analyze issues as
important or very important to success
87%
emphasize the importance of written
and verbal communication and
presentation skills
91%
of employers want employees who can
work collaboratively within a team
SHARE:
5

6. SHARE:
6
It’s clear that employers want candidates with a strong mix of technical and soft skills. Educators have heard the call and are
emphasizing fieldwork, internships and group projects to better prepare graduates for the realities of today’s workplace.
LEADS TO SUCCESS
THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF
SKILLS LEADS TO SUCCESS