Academic achievement, task characteristics, and first job performance of young engineers

This study investigated the first industrial job performance of a group of engineering students. The dimensions of task characteristics and performance evaluation criteria were examined. It was found that a significant portion of total variance in overall performance rating could be accounted for by a mixed measure of the student's intellectual, motivational, and interpersonal qualities. No significant relationship, however, was found between academic achievement and job performance overall. Instead, the results suggested that academic achievement might be only one of several important factors that could affect job performance.