College to work transitions: students draw their futures

This preliminary investigation considers undergraduate student perceptions with respect to their professional future. "No one warned me it would be like this," and "These are the things that college never taught me" are typical comments that are heard from the young workforce. This paper addresses future plans and predictions of students from two New England institutions of higher learning by utilizing a variety of strategies. Methods to elicit data include in-class activities and carefully designed questionnaires. These exercises have been designed to uncover images and themes concerning transition from college to the workplace. Issues include technical and communication skills, leadership roles, corporate politics, group dynamics and gender diversity in the workplace.