Analyzing Student Perspectives: Undergraduate Research Experiences and Career Readiness Development

The national discourse around the value of higher education has universities examining their effectiveness in developing career ready students. The National Association of Colleges and Employers has identified eight career readiness competencies employers are seeking in graduates. Undergraduate research is known to develop the most sought-after competencies of communication, critical thinking, and teamwork. A content analysis of graduating students’ reflections on the impact of undergraduate research was conducted to determine whether each of the eight career readiness competencies was mentioned. Two to three competencies were mentioned on average per reflection, with career/self-development and communication most frequently mentioned. The data were broken down and compared by demographic subgroups to determine if historically underserved groups differed from majority groups in the competencies mentioned.