Expectation vs Reality: A Study on the Significance of Practical Training for Future Graduates

Abstract

This paper reports the significance of an internship experience which is intended to assist students to obtain jobs as soon as they graduate. It also discusses some of the reasons graduates fail to obtain jobs after graduation. Feedback from employers (from place of internship) via questionnaires and interviews was analysed to gain insight into what employers expect from graduates, how the graduates performed during the internship and what is expected of them in the future. One of the common problems cited by stakeholders/employers is graduates do not have the necessary skills to perform certain jobs. It was discovered that employers expect the graduates to posses a high communicative ability, to be well motivated, to have positive attitude, willingness to learn and interpersonal skills. In addition, some of these future graduates were found to be lacking in commitment, perseverence and knowledge of office etiquette. This paper highlights the crucial role that internship plays in ensuring that graduates secure employment after graduation. Internships greatly increase the chances that a student will gain full time employment after graduation. Reports often reveal that while prospective employers have specific expectations of the interns and that some are willing to provide training, they are confronted with issues relating to candidates’ language proficiency and their competence in a number of soft skills.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2017.v7n2p141