REGISTER

If you selected "Other," please specify your discipline here:

Would you like to sign up to receive Inside Higher Ed's Daily News Update? *

Yes

No

This webinar was made possible in part by the financial support of Cengage. I understand that by registering for this webinar, my registration information will be shared with Inside Higher Ed and the sponsor for marketing purposes. *

I understand

Captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing is provided by Ai-Media for all Inside Higher Ed webinars. Transcripts available upon request.

The connection between education and employment is changing. Employers increasingly expect entry-level candidates to arrive with practical experience, job-specific skills and workplace readiness—expectations that can be difficult for new graduates to meet.

New Cengage research reveals the challenge from multiple perspectives: 53% of graduates say they have chosen not to apply for an entry-level job because they felt underqualified, while 77% believe employers expect more experience than an entry-level candidate should reasonably have. Educators are feeling the shift too, with 62% saying they've had to do more in recent years to prepare students for entry-level employment.

So what does career readiness require today—and where should that preparation happen?

Join Cengage, higher education and workforce experts to examine where students, educators and employers align, where expectations diverge and how stronger connections between academic learning, practical experience and workforce needs can help students navigate the transition from college to career.

Can't attend the webinar? You should still register—all registrants will receive a recording of the webinar and a copy of the presentation slides.

Thursday, October 29, 2026 | 2pm EST

The New Rules of Career Readiness: Connecting Education and Employment

SPEAKERS

Colleen Flaherty
Senior Editor of Special Content at Inside Higher Ed

Colleen Flaherty, senior editor of special content, previously served as Student Voice editor for Inside Higher Ed. Prior to joining the publication in 2012, Colleen was military editor at the Killeen Daily Herald, outside Fort Hood, Texas. Before that, she covered government and land use issues for the Greenwich Time and Hersam Acorn Newspapers in her home state of Connecticut. After graduating from McGill University in Montreal with a degree in English literature, Colleen taught English and English as a second language in public schools in the Bronx, New York. She earned her M.S.Ed. from City University of New York Lehman College as part of the New York City Teaching Fellows program.

Marco Krcatovich II, Ph.D.
Senior Director of Research & Outcomes at Cengage

Dr. Marco Krcatovich II, senior director of research & outcomes at Cengage, is a scholar-practitioner with over 20 years in higher education leadership who bridges academia and industry to connect campus strategy, policy and market insights into actionable partnerships. His experience prior to Cengage includes academic and administrative roles at the University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania, Boston University and Governors State University in Illinois. His scholarship tackles remote work environments, the role of administrative staff in college student success, and secondary/postsecondary data systems and reporting. He currently resides in Chicago, IL.

Courtney Pham
Senior Instructor in the College of Business at Missouri State University

Courtney Pham is a senior instructor in the College of Business at Missouri State University, where she has taught since 2008. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses across online, face-to-face, hybrid and study-abroad settings, emphasizing experiential learning. Prior to her career in academia, Pham spent 12 years in management roles in sales and marketing in Las Vegas and Southern California. Her research interest is in statistical analysis of pedagogical systems, and she recently co-authored, “Motives for Corporate Philanthropy and Charitable Causes Supported.” She is also faculty adviser for the Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity, and FBLA-Phi Beta Lambda Collegiate chapter at Missouri State University. Her honors include the 2020 Outstanding Adviser Award from FBLA-PBL, the 2015 Award of Excellence in Study Away and the 2016 Best Faculty Award in the College of Business. In 2018, Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) recognized her for her contributions to students’ career and academic growth.

Adam Faight, Ph.D.
Corporate Director of Education at Porter and Chester Institute / YTI Career Institute