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On November 1, Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs of the leading U.S. companies, and HR Policy Association, an organization of senior HR executives from the largest U.S. employers, released JobSTART101: Smart Tips and Real-World Training – a free online course for college students and recent graduates that introduces the professional skills that employers expect from new hires.

Even in a time of soaring unemployment, a survey revealed that 61 percent of U.S. employers report difficulty in finding qualified workers to fill vacancies at their companies. JobSTART101 addresses the gap between employers’ needs and workers’ skills by helping students understand the real-life challenges and expectations of the workplace.

JobSTART101 is a first-of-its-kind course that’s free and available to college students and recent graduates nationwide. The course includes interactive components such as videos and course workbooks that cover topics ranging from how to communicate and solve problems to how to develop a professional persona that helps drive a career for long-term success. It is designed to be engaging and fast-paced, with the option for students to complete the entire course in approximately 90 minutes or tackle the six topical modules one at a time.

“A student or young professional who spends 90 minutes with this course will be a more productive employee and experience greater satisfaction in his/her first job without having to undergo extensive – and expensive – coursework or training,” says Alexandra Levit, bestselling author and speaker on business and workplace issues and host of JobSTART101.

JobSTART101 is a recommendation by The Springboard Project – an independent commission of thought leaders – who advised the U.S. Department of Labor on specific actions that would help Americans get the education and training they need to succeed in the evolving economy. The experts urged employers to better communicate workforce needs and expectations to students and increase American’s workplace readiness and competitiveness.