Professionalism in Accounting Graduates: Employers' Preferences and Colleges of Business' Challenges

What do employers of business graduates seek in job candidates? Given the technical knowledge indicated by a college degree, candidates are then distinguished by "soft" qualities that can't easily be bulleted on résumés. This study explores the framework for these qualities, considered aspects of professionalism, which was previously developed from a survey to refine and categorize descriptors. We report new findings from a focus group and survey research of a variety of partners, HR managers, and recruiters from accounting firms-afield sensitive to professionalism since new associates in public accounting have client contact. We conclude by describing one business school's approach for raising the level of professionalism in its students.