Students entering the job market and potential employers have very different perceptions about the “career readiness” of new college graduates, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Using eight competencies that NACE identified as constituting “career readiness,” the survey asked employers and graduating seniors to indicate how proficient new graduates were in each. For the most part, employers were less likely to view new college graduates as proficient in these competencies than were the students themselves. This discrepancy can be problematic because it suggests that employers see skills gaps in key areas where college students don’t believe gaps exist, according to NACE.

In particular, the two groups’ opinions differed greatly when it came to new graduate proficiency in professionalism/work ethic, oral/written communications, and leadership. The biggest gap was in the professionalism competency: Nearly 90% of seniors reported they believe they are proficient, but less than half of employers agreed with that assessment.

The greatest agreement between the two groups was around new graduates’ ability to work in teams. More than three-quarters of employers said new graduates were proficient, compared to 85% of the students.

Only in terms of the technology-related competency were employers more likely than their student counterparts to view new graduates as proficient. Nearly 66% of employers rated new graduates as proficient in digital technology — the ability to leverage technologies to solve problems, complete tasks, and accomplish goals — compared to just under 60% of graduating seniors.

Results came from the Job Outlook 2018, which surveyed 201 employers who were members of NACE, and The Class of 2017 Student Survey Report, which included 4,213 graduating seniors.