Every aspect of the college experience has been disrupted this year, and students are concerned about how the coronavirus pandemic will impact their career preparedness.
A new college survey of 2,000 undergraduates finds that a majority (55%) feel somewhat prepared for their career after graduation, while few (13%) feel very prepared. And work experience matters. Students who have completed an internship are twice as likely as those who have not to report feeling very prepared to enter the workforce (22% vs. 10%).
With many classes and internships moved online, students worry the pandemic will impact their career preparedness. Almost 7 in 10 (68%) students think the coronavirus pandemic will impact how prepared they feel to enter the workforce after graduation. Female students are more likely than male students to say so (75% vs. 63%).
Three-Quarters of Female Students Believe the Pandemic Will Impact Their Career Preparedness
Do you think the coronavirus pandemic will impact how prepared you feel to enter the workforce after graduation?
Despite these fears, students overall are confident they’ll land a job in their chosen field. Three-quarters (75%) of students believe their major will lead to a good job after graduation, though Arts and Humanities majors are significantly less likely than Science majors to say so (50% vs. 81%).
When it comes to specific workplace skills, students are the least confident in their interviewing skills. About 7 in 10 (72%) students are confident they’ll graduate with interviewing skills, compared to 9 in 10 who believe they’ll graduate with collaboration skills (94%), professionalism (94%), and complex problem solving skills (90%).
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Methodology: This survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse. Interviews were conducted among a sample of 2,000 full-time and part-time students attending four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. who are part of College Pulse’s American College Student Panel.
