When students prepare for campus placements, many consider it highly CGPA ,cumulative grade point average) will open doors to the best job offers. However, a new report titled New reality in college recruitment By HigherPro This reveals a clear gap between what students believe and what employers actually prioritize.
Based on insights from over 20,000 students, 350 educational institutions, 200 corporate entities and over 100 campus recruitment experts, the report provides different perspectives on the key factors influencing placement decisions.
CGPA vs skills
A comparative analysis of the reports highlights a significant gap between students’ perception of academic performance and the reality of corporate expectations. According to the survey, students consider academic performance (CGPA) as the top factor for placement success. In contrast, both academia and corporates place CGPA at the bottom of their list and rank it 10th in importance.
This misalignment suggests that while students may invest heavily in their grades, companies and even educational institutions are moving toward a more holistic assessment of candidates. For corporates, a high CGPA does not necessarily indicate job preparation. They value practical skills and behavioral qualities more than academic scores, indicating a change in the way talent is assessed.
Source: ‘The New Reality in College Hiring’ report by HirePro
Note that lower rank indicates higher importance
Technical skills: equal priority across all groups
One area where students, academics and employers come together is 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 rank it second.
Technical proficiency is clearly seen as an important 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 solid measure of a candidate’s ability to contribute to a company’s objectives. This consensus underlines the importance of developing core competencies throughout one’s educational journey.
Emphasis on research and projects for real-world application
Practical experience in the form of research projects is also highly valued, ranking second for academia and third for both students and corporate. Projects provide a platform for students to demonstrate their problem-solving abilities and practical application of theoretical knowledge. For the education world, it symbolizes how well students have absorbed and applied their learning. Meanwhile, companies view these projects as evidence of a candidate’s ability to work on real-world problems, making it an essential factor in their hiring decisions.
Attitude and behavior: an undervalued corporate asset
Where the report shows is an interesting difference in the importance of attitudes and behaviour. Corporates place significant emphasis on these qualities and rank them fourth in their priority list. In comparison, students rank him at fifth, while academia ranks him much lower at eighth.
This gap suggests that students and educational institutions do not fully understand the importance that employers place on interpersonal skills, professionalism and adaptability in the workplace. In today’s collaborative and dynamic work environment, employers look for candidates who can work well with teams, handle pressure and maintain a positive attitude, factors that can make or break career progression in the long run. Are.
soft skills:Essential Yet Overlooked Ingredient
Although not at the top, soft skills including communication, teamwork and leadership abilities are considered important by all groups surveyed. Ranked fourth by students and academics, and fifth by corporates, these skills are essential to unravel the complexities of negotiation at the workplace. While technical skills may land a candidate a job, it is often the soft skills that ensure long-term success.
Student Perception vs. Corporate Reality of Internships
Interestingly, while students consider internship experience to be highly important (third), corporates give it less importance, ranking it six. This suggests that although 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 probably give more importance to other factors – such as technical expertise and attitude – when making the final hiring decision. However, internships provide a way for students to build real-world experience, which indirectly strengthens other key attributes.
extracurricular And competitions: a complement, not a decisive factor
Achievements outside the classroom, such as participating in extra-curricular activities and winning technical competitions, are ranked low by corporates. While students rank 6th in extracurriculars, academia and corporate rank them 10th and 9th respectively. Similarly, technical competitions hold moderate importance for students and academia (seventh position), but corporates still do not give them much importance.
This highlights that although these activities may enhance a candidate’s profile, they are not considered important in the placement process. Students should recognize that such accomplishments complement and can support, but not replace, the core qualities that employers seek.
Corporates give surprisingly high importance to a candidate’s ability to learn and adapt, ranking it sixth, while students and academics rank it ninth and sixth respectively. Employers, especially in constantly evolving industries, need candidates who are flexible, quick to learn, and willing to accept new challenges. Conversely, students may underestimate how important this characteristic is for long-term success in the workplace.
A holistic perspective: what the report implies
The HigherPro report highlights a fundamental discrepancy in the expectations of students, academics and corporates when it comes to placements. Students often overestimate the importance of their CGPA, while employers look for a good 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 developing a professional attitude can make all the difference when transitioning from the classroom to the workplace.
