0%
Pre-Graduation Placement Rate
The Problem:
Here's what employers say — quietly, in exit interviews and recruiting debriefs and
frustrated one-on-ones with HR — that most universities never hear:
"They were smart. They just weren't ready."
This isn't a failure of intelligence. It's a failure of preparation. And it's happening at
exactly the moment when the stakes couldn't be higher — when AI is reshaping every
industry, when technical skills alone are no longer a competitive moat, and when the
only truly irreplaceable asset in any organization is a leader who knows how to think,
connect, adapt, and grow.
The universities that recognize this first will win. The students who develop these skills
first will win. The organizations that invest in this now will win.
Work Ready exists to make sure that happens.
for students & recent graduates
The 2024 National Association of Colleges and Employers survey confirms what you
may already suspect: 80.1% of employers prioritize leadership skills in new hires, and
78.9% highly value teamwork abilities. But there's a massive gap—while 64% consider
communication essential, only 34% believe recent graduates are actually competent in
this area.
Work Ready gives you the proven methodology to transform technical graduates into
the leaders companies are actively seeking. Navy SEAL principles validated by
seventeen years of results: 96% career placement, faster promotions, and multiple job
offers instead of months of uncertainty.
The future belongs to professionals who can do what AI cannot: inspire teams, build
trust, and create value through genuine leadership. You have the technical foundation.
This framework gives you the leadership edge that makes you indispensable.
* National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Survey,
2024. "Employer Priorities for New Graduate Hiring."
(for 80.1% and 78.9%)
* American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
Report, 2023. "Employer Assessment of Graduate Readiness."
(for 64% and 34%)
for parents of college students
A 2023 study revealed that half of recent college graduates work in positions that don't
require their degree. Even more concerning? Nearly half remain trapped in
underemployment ten years later, their career trajectories permanently altered by those
initial post-graduation positions.
You've invested years in your student's education. They've worked hard, chosen a meaningful path,
and earned credentials that should open doors.
But here's what exceptional parents understand: getting the degree isn't enough
anymore. The students who thrive aren't just technically competent—they can lead
themselves with discipline, contribute to teams in ways that get noticed, and grow into
the kind of professionals companies promote.
Work Ready gives your student the proven leadership framework that makes this
difference. Built on U.S. Navy SEAL principles and validated by seventeen years of
results—96% career placement rates and measurably faster promotions—this
systematic approach develops the capabilities that set graduates apart before they even
start their first job.
* Burning Glass Institute & Strada Education Network. "The Permanent Detour:
Underemployment's Long-Term Effects on the Careers of College Grads," 2023.
for corporate HR & Talent development Leaders
You know the numbers. Most new graduates require extensive development before they
can lead themselves, contribute effectively to teams, or grow into technical leaders.
That time and investment compounds across every cohort, and in today's competitive
landscape, it's a burden your organization can't afford to carry alone.
The gap isn't technical knowledge—it's leadership capability. The graduates who can
navigate difficult conversations, elevate team dynamics, and develop into your next
generation of leaders? They're rare. And as AI automates routine technical work, that
leadership premium only increases.
Built on U.S. Navy SEAL leadership principles and
validated by seventeen years of measurable results—96% career placement rates, 20%
faster career advancement, and leadership capabilities AI cannot replicate—this
framework produces graduates who arrive closer to ready than any previous cohort.
I can bring this proven methodology to your early-career development programs,
campus recruiting partnerships, and leadership pipelines—turning your newest hires
into your fastest-developing leaders.
For university presidents, provosts & deans of engineering and business
In a 2024 national survey, three-quarters of companies reported dissatisfaction with
recent graduates. The gap? Not technical knowledge—employers cite lack of motivation
(50%), professional behavior (46%), and communication skills (39%). Nearly 60%
believe graduates simply aren't ready for the workforce, with over a quarter of
executives admitting they actively avoid hiring recent graduates altogether.
This is the enrollment challenge no one's talking about: students and families are
demanding ROI proof, and employers—your real customers—are telling you the
graduates you're sending them are technically prepared but professionally
underprepared.
But here's the opportunity: you're already producing technically brilliant graduates. You
just need the proven framework that develops the leadership capabilities employers are
actively recruiting for.
The Work Ready framework gives you a research-validated approach to delivering
measurable leadership outcomes. With seventeen years of documented results—96%
career placement rates, 100% graduation rates, and 20% faster career
advancement—this isn't theory. It's a systematic methodology that differentiates your
institution and transforms career outcomes.
When AI handles routine technical work, your graduates will be the ones leading AI-
human teams and solving problems that matter. I've built this framework, measured its
impact, and I'm ready to bring it to your campus.
* EdWeek Survey, 2023. "Employer Perceptions of Recent Graduates."
Bruce DeRuntz, PhD is a leadership development professional, speaker, and author focused on preparing individuals and organizations for real-world leadership.
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