The U.S. unemployment rate for people aged 20 to 24 is nearly twice that of those aged 25 to 34, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And, according to a survey conducted by Bentley University and KRC Research, 35 percent of business leaders believe recent college graduates, if graded, would get a “C” or lower for preparation.

So how can we better prepare millennials for work and help them find jobs? In an effort to answer this question, Bentley and KRC asked leaders in business and higher education how millennials could become more prepared. The answers are outlined in our recent survey report, “Ready for Work: 7 Ways to Better Prepare Millennials for Work.”

In a four-part video series that starts today, “Viewpoints: Preparing Millennials for Work,” we will look at the preparation from three different perspectives: that of the student, the college president and the business leader.

In our first video you will meet Maria and Daniel, two Bentley University seniors who have made the most of their four-year experience by taking advantage of the resources offered by the Career Services office such as resume help and mock interviews.

According to Susan Brennan, Executive Director of Corporate Relations and Career Services at Bentley, engaging with career services early on in the college experience helps students think about how to make the most of their time on campus – students who are career-oriented can get a head start on identifying the tools that will help them succeed upon graduation and students who are unsure of their direction can begin the career exploration process.

Maria and Daniel landed multiple internships while in college to test out a variety of roles and gain experience in their areas of interest.

As a result, both of them received job offers before graduation, showing the immeasurable value of an internship. In fact, with raised expectations for entry-level applicants, 82 percent of our survey respondents believe internships should be mandatory for all college students. The Wall Street Journal says, “internships are the new entry-level jobs.”

See what Maria and Daniel have to say about the steps they took to start down the path toward a successful career:

Watch the Series

View all of the videos in the Video Viewpoints Series:

Preparing Millennials for Work: A Student's Perspective
A CEO's Take on Preparing Millennials for Work
The College President's Take on Preparing Millennials for Work
4 Things You Should Do to Prepare for Your First Job