A college credential should prepare people to do good work, not simply help them get hired or earn a higher salary. Doing a job well takes technical knowledge, but also sound judgment, clear communication, teamwork, and a sense of responsibility to others. College can provide a strong foundation and access to careers, while still leaving students with more to learn about putting their knowledge into practice.
In a survey of 403 employers and 944 students in healthcare, information technology, and architecture and construction, both groups saw a gap between what good work requires and how well students are prepared. That gap appeared across all nine areas examined, including technical skills, ethics, relationships, and continued learning. Employers generally saw larger gaps than students did. These ratings describe people’s perceptions of preparation, not direct tests of graduates’ abilities.
Knowing something in a classroom is different from using it under pressure. A nursing student may learn communication techniques in class but need practice using them while juggling patients’ needs and limited time. An IT graduate may know the theory behind a network but struggle to fix a real problem. Interviews and focus groups highlighted internships, clinical placements, apprenticeships, and team projects as valuable ways to connect learning with the demands of work. Feedback, guidance, and opportunities to make decisions help turn those experiences into learning.
Colleges can build practical experience into programs earlier and more consistently, rather than leaving students to find it on their own. Communication, ethical decision-making, and adaptability belong alongside technical learning, especially as tools such as AI change workplace expectations. Employers also have a role through mentoring, training, and giving new workers more responsibility as they gain experience. Preparing graduates for good work is a shared effort that continues after hiring, not a task colleges can finish before graduation.
Read the full white paper, Beyond Job Readiness, to explore the findings and their implications for how we think about credential value, career readiness, and preparation for good work.
Related blog posts from The Good Project
- Knowing what to do is only the beginning | Sept. 21, 2026
- A degree opens the door—but what prepares students to walk through it? | Sept. 14, 2026
- Why knowing how isn’t quite the same as being ready | Sept 8, 2026