Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.38190/ope.11.1.11
Management skills as a key determinant of business graduates’ employability – employers’ and graduates’ perceptions
Maja Klindžić
orcid.org/0000-0001-7199-9542
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics & Business
Kristina Pavković
; Orbico d.o.o.
Abstract
Employability refers to a set of abilities, knowledge and skills that enable graduates to expand employment opportunities and achieve further career advancement. The main goal of the paper was to examine which skills are crucial for business graduates in search of a job, as well as to analyze the difference in perception between employers and graduates with regard to the development of selected conceptual, social and technical managerial skills. A quantitative empirical study was conducted on a sample of 30 experts mainly in the field of human resources from mostly large Croatian companies, as well as on 100 recent business graduates from the Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb. The study revealed significant differences in the perception of the development of individual managerial skills of graduates. Compared to employers, graduates tend to overestimate almost all skills except technical knowledge and oral communication skills. The largest gap in assessment was identified in self-awareness, teamwork, conflict management and critical thinking. These results can be useful for universities in tailoring their programs based on labor market demands, as well as to business students, who can improve their skillset and maximize their employability prospects.
Keywords
employability; business graduates; social skills; technical skills; conceptual skills; technical skills
Hrčak ID:
258779
URI
Publication date:
11.6.2021.
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