Bridging the Career Readiness Gap: A Structured Review of Interventions for Information Technology Undergraduates in Developing Countries

Abstract

Information technology undergraduate education in developing countries encounters critical challenges in preparing students for professional employment, characterized by fragmented career preparation approaches, persistent skills gaps between academic curricula and industry requirements, and constrained access to realistic interview prac tice. This review aims to synthesize evidence regarding career readiness interventions, identify skill gaps impeding information technology (IT) graduate employment, and evaluate effectiveness of technology-mediated solutions for industry-academy bridging. Systematic searches across IEEE Explore, Elsevier/Science Direct, and supplementary databases yielded 54 initial records; following eligibility screening emphasizing IT undergraduate populations and empirical evidence, 14 studies were preserved for thematic synthesis. Analysis identified six primary themes: Ai-powered mock interview systems (21.4%) exhibiting 85-87% accuracy with 78% confidence enhancement; internship and work-integrated learning (21.4%) confirming 60% elevated employment probability and robust correlations with job readiness, skills gap investigations (14.3%) revealing 2-3 year curriculum delay, career guidance systems (14.3%) attaining 82-91% matching accuracy, employability assessment frameworks (14.3%) indicating soft skills as more reliable predictors than grades, and adaptive learning technologies (14.3%) producing 15-30% learning enhancements. Convergent evidence confirmed internship participation as the principal employability determinant, whereas Ai-driven interventions exhibited technological feasibility for scalable career preparation. Geographic concentration in developed contexts, absence of longitudinal impact assessment, and lack of integrated platform investigations constitute critical gaps. Findings establish evidence-based foundations for developing comprehensive career readiness ecosystems merging mock interviews, adaptive learning, career guidance, and work-integrated learning to address holistic preparation needs of IT undergraduates.