When students prepare for campus placements, many assume that a high CGPA ( Cumulative Grade Point Average ) will open doors to the best job offers. However, a new report titled The New Reality in College Hiring by HirePro reveals a stark contrast between what students believe and what employers actually prioritise.
The report, based on a survey of over 20,000 students, 350 educational institutions, 200 corporate entities, and insights from more than 100 campus recruitment experts, provides a look into the differing perspectives on the key factors that influence placement decisions.
CGPA vs Skills
The report’s comparative analysis exposes a significant gap between students' perception of academic performance and the reality of corporate expectations. According to the survey, students rank academic performance (CGPA) as the top factor for placement success. In contrast, both academia and corporates place CGPA at the bottom of their list, ranking it 10th in importance.
This misalignment suggests that while students may invest heavily in their grades, companies and even educational institutions are moving towards a more holistic assessment of candidates. For corporates, a high CGPA does not necessarily indicate job readiness. They value practical skills and behavioural traits over academic scores, signalling a shift in the way talent is evaluated.
Note that the lower rank denotes higher importance
Technical skills: A common priority across all groups
One area where students, academia, and employers align is in their shared emphasis on technical skills. The survey shows that all three groups rank technical skills highly, with academia and corporates placing it as their top priority, while students give it the second spot.
Technical proficiency is clearly seen as a critical factor in determining a candidate's ability to perform in a job role. Whether it’s coding, engineering, or other domain-specific knowledge, technical skills represent a tangible measure of a candidate’s ability to contribute to a company’s objectives. This consensus underscores the importance of developing core competencies during one’s academic journey.
Emphasis on research and projects for real-world application
Hands-on experience in the form of research projects is also highly valued, ranking second for academia and third for both students and corporates. Projects provide a platform for students to demonstrate their problem-solving abilities and practical application of theoretical knowledge. For academia, it’s a mark of how well students have absorbed and applied their learning. Meanwhile, companies view these projects as evidence of a candidate’s capability to work on real-world problems, making it an essential factor in their hiring decisions.
Attitude and behavior: An underrated corporate asset
Where the report reveals an intriguing divergence is in the importance of attitude and behavior. Corporates place a significant emphasis on these traits, ranking them fourth in their priority list. In comparison, students rank them at fifth, while academia places them much lower at eighth.
This gap suggests that students and academic institutions may not fully grasp the weight that employers place on interpersonal skills, professionalism, and adaptability in the workplace. In today's collaborative and dynamic work environments, employers seek candidates who can work well with teams, handle pressure, and maintain a positive attitude, factors that can make or break career progress in the long run.
Soft Skills : The essential yet overlooked component
Though not at the very top, soft skills—including communication, teamwork, and leadership abilities—are recognized as important by all groups surveyed. Ranked fourth by students and academia, and fifth by corporates, these skills are essential for navigating the complexities of workplace interactions. While technical skills may land a candidate the job, it is often the soft skills that ensure long-term success.
Student perception vs corporate reality of internships
Interestingly, while students rank internship experience as highly important (third), corporates seem to value it less, assigning it a rank of six. This suggests that while internships provide a valuable glimpse into the professional world, they may not be as decisive a factor in the hiring process as students think. Corporates likely weigh other factors—such as technical expertise and attitude—more heavily when making final hiring decisions. However, internships do provide students with a way to build real-world experience, which indirectly strengthens other key attributes.
Extracurriculars and competitions: A supplement, not a deciding factor
Achievements outside the classroom, such as participation in extracurricular activities and winning technical competitions, are ranked low by corporates. While students rank extracurriculars at six, academia and corporates place them at 10th and 9th, respectively. Similarly, technical competitions hold moderate importance for students and academia (ranked seventh), but corporates still don’t give them much weight.
This highlights that while these activities might enhance a candidate’s profile, they are not seen as pivotal in the placement process. Students should recognize that such achievements are supplementary and can support, but not replace, the core qualities that employers seek.
Corporates place a surprisingly high value on a candidate’s ability to learn and adapt, ranking it sixth, while students and academia rank it much lower at ninth and sixth, respectively. Employers, especially in industries that are constantly evolving, need candidates who are flexible, quick to learn, and willing to embrace new challenges. In contrast, students may underestimate how important this trait is for long-term success in the workplace.
A holistic perspective: What the report implies
The HirePro report sheds light on a fundamental mismatch in the expectations of students, academia, and corporates when it comes to placements. Students often overestimate the importance of their CGPA, while employers are looking for a well-rounded candidate—one with strong technical skills, practical experience, and a positive attitude.
For students, the key takeaway is that developing technical skills, participating in real-world projects, and cultivating a professional attitude can make all the difference when transitioning from the classroom to the workplace.
The report, based on a survey of over 20,000 students, 350 educational institutions, 200 corporate entities, and insights from more than 100 campus recruitment experts, provides a look into the differing perspectives on the key factors that influence placement decisions.
CGPA vs Skills
The report’s comparative analysis exposes a significant gap between students' perception of academic performance and the reality of corporate expectations. According to the survey, students rank academic performance (CGPA) as the top factor for placement success. In contrast, both academia and corporates place CGPA at the bottom of their list, ranking it 10th in importance.
This misalignment suggests that while students may invest heavily in their grades, companies and even educational institutions are moving towards a more holistic assessment of candidates. For corporates, a high CGPA does not necessarily indicate job readiness. They value practical skills and behavioural traits over academic scores, signalling a shift in the way talent is evaluated.
Note that the lower rank denotes higher importance
Technical skills: A common priority across all groups
One area where students, academia, and employers align is in their shared emphasis on technical skills. The survey shows that all three groups rank technical skills highly, with academia and corporates placing it as their top priority, while students give it the second spot.
Technical proficiency is clearly seen as a critical factor in determining a candidate's ability to perform in a job role. Whether it’s coding, engineering, or other domain-specific knowledge, technical skills represent a tangible measure of a candidate’s ability to contribute to a company’s objectives. This consensus underscores the importance of developing core competencies during one’s academic journey.
Emphasis on research and projects for real-world application
Hands-on experience in the form of research projects is also highly valued, ranking second for academia and third for both students and corporates. Projects provide a platform for students to demonstrate their problem-solving abilities and practical application of theoretical knowledge. For academia, it’s a mark of how well students have absorbed and applied their learning. Meanwhile, companies view these projects as evidence of a candidate’s capability to work on real-world problems, making it an essential factor in their hiring decisions.
Attitude and behavior: An underrated corporate asset
Where the report reveals an intriguing divergence is in the importance of attitude and behavior. Corporates place a significant emphasis on these traits, ranking them fourth in their priority list. In comparison, students rank them at fifth, while academia places them much lower at eighth.
This gap suggests that students and academic institutions may not fully grasp the weight that employers place on interpersonal skills, professionalism, and adaptability in the workplace. In today's collaborative and dynamic work environments, employers seek candidates who can work well with teams, handle pressure, and maintain a positive attitude, factors that can make or break career progress in the long run.
Soft Skills : The essential yet overlooked component
Though not at the very top, soft skills—including communication, teamwork, and leadership abilities—are recognized as important by all groups surveyed. Ranked fourth by students and academia, and fifth by corporates, these skills are essential for navigating the complexities of workplace interactions. While technical skills may land a candidate the job, it is often the soft skills that ensure long-term success.
Student perception vs corporate reality of internships
Interestingly, while students rank internship experience as highly important (third), corporates seem to value it less, assigning it a rank of six. This suggests that while internships provide a valuable glimpse into the professional world, they may not be as decisive a factor in the hiring process as students think. Corporates likely weigh other factors—such as technical expertise and attitude—more heavily when making final hiring decisions. However, internships do provide students with a way to build real-world experience, which indirectly strengthens other key attributes.
Extracurriculars and competitions: A supplement, not a deciding factor
Achievements outside the classroom, such as participation in extracurricular activities and winning technical competitions, are ranked low by corporates. While students rank extracurriculars at six, academia and corporates place them at 10th and 9th, respectively. Similarly, technical competitions hold moderate importance for students and academia (ranked seventh), but corporates still don’t give them much weight.
This highlights that while these activities might enhance a candidate’s profile, they are not seen as pivotal in the placement process. Students should recognize that such achievements are supplementary and can support, but not replace, the core qualities that employers seek.
Corporates place a surprisingly high value on a candidate’s ability to learn and adapt, ranking it sixth, while students and academia rank it much lower at ninth and sixth, respectively. Employers, especially in industries that are constantly evolving, need candidates who are flexible, quick to learn, and willing to embrace new challenges. In contrast, students may underestimate how important this trait is for long-term success in the workplace.
A holistic perspective: What the report implies
The HirePro report sheds light on a fundamental mismatch in the expectations of students, academia, and corporates when it comes to placements. Students often overestimate the importance of their CGPA, while employers are looking for a well-rounded candidate—one with strong technical skills, practical experience, and a positive attitude.
For students, the key takeaway is that developing technical skills, participating in real-world projects, and cultivating a professional attitude can make all the difference when transitioning from the classroom to the workplace.
You may also like
Chopraa Best At 12th As Bintang Of Indonesia Leads At Asia Pacific Amateur Champs
Food safety watchdog calls for restaurants to give written allergy information on menus
Tripura CM Manik Saha participates in "Ekta Mall" bhoomi pujan
Mum-of-four's remains found in woods six months after she mysteriously disappeared
