title: Final-year student and employer views of essential personal, interpersonal and professional attributes for new veterinary science graduates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the perceptions of final-year veterinary science students regarding the importance of a variety of personal, interpersonal and professional attributes for new graduates, and to compare these with the views held by employers of new veterinary science graduates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Final-year veterinary science students at The University of Queensland and a sample of employers of new graduates from The University of Queensland were surveyed using a written questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distributions of responses given by students and employers did not differ significantly for 44 of 54 attributes listed. Communication skills, teamwork, respect for co-workers, honesty and an awareness of personal limitations were valued highly by students and employers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Final-year students and employers of new graduates from The University of Queensland ascribe similar importance to a variety of personal, interpersonal and professional attributes for new veterinary science graduates.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia. d.schull@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Dn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schull
authors.forename: Jm
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Gt
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Pc
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004520:Education, Veterinary; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards; D011793:Queensland; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014730:Veterinary Medicine; D000078329:Workforce