Graduate Student Perceptions of Graduate School Preparation for the Workplace

Graduate degree–holders occupy critical positions in the workforce. It is imperative that these individuals possess the skills necessary to succeed in their post-graduate positions. This paper discusses a survey of 1,925 employed individuals who completed a graduate degree. Results indicate that, in addition to imparting field specific knowledge, graduate programs are equipping students to perform a wide range of nonacademic skills (e.g., teamwork) deemed valuable in the workplace. However, there are still some areas in which universities could better tailor their graduate programs to align with the responsibilities of the employment sectors that their students will enter upon graduation