Abstract:
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore employability skills that employers, university
lecturers and graduates value to bring to the workplace, when graduates are applying for entry-level
graduate jobs in the field of computer science in Sri Lanka.
Design/methodology/approach – A total of three samples were selected for this exploratory
study, namely, graduates, employers, and university lecturers. Three self-administered survey
questionnaires were developed targeting the three groups. In addition to descriptive statistics, paired
sample t-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and correlation analysis were used for the data analysis.
Findings – The findings suggested that there are differences in the priorities given for employability
skills by the four groups – male graduates, female graduates, employers, and university lecturers.
Further, the findings suggest that employability skills are influenced by the gender of the graduates.
Overall, the findings of the study could be used to assist universities, graduates, employers, and career
advisers in applying strategic decisions in managing graduates’ careers.
Originality/value – Although a considerable amount of the literature addresses employability
skills, much of the information is theoretical in nature and offers policy recommendations and
prescriptive advice. Further, a majority of the research studies has primarily examined the experiences
of a particular higher educational institute where remedial actions were taken to impart employability
skills. The paper presents findings of a survey that investigated and compared employability skills
that employers, university lecturers and graduates value to bring to the workplace when graduates are
applying for entry-level graduate jobs.
