What does the "perfect graduate" look like for companies? They have gained practical experience during their studies. This was the requirement of 80% of the companies that took part in the 2014 University Recruiting Study conducted by job exchange Jobware and Koblenz University of Applied Sciences. The perfect university graduate has carefully chosen their degree course and major (expected by 70% of companies), has first-class internship certificates (expected by 55%) and an excellent final grade (expected by 41%), has experience abroad (expected by 39%) and has foreign language skills (expected by 39%). What 51% of companies see as an obstacle to hiring other graduates, the perfect graduate uses to their advantage: well informed about the company and the advertised position, they have an excellent chance of impressing in the interview. While his competitors demand an unreasonably high salary, he remains financially grounded and knows his strengths, which he can present in a structured manner. The perfect graduate is also well prepared for the interview. These are the ideal expectations of companies - in reality, they rarely apply.