What are students looking for in a potential employer? was originally published on College Recruiter.
Article courtesy of Universum Communications
2020’s most valued employer attributes shows a more pragmatic side to students.
In relation to last year, students are increasingly focusing on renumeration and advancement opportunities offered by an employer, especially compared to the work culture elements. For example, the number of students selecting high future earnings as important increased 4% year over year, while in the number of students selecting leaders who support my development decreased 5%. Amid the global pandemic, it is no surprise that we see students prioritizing secure and reliable employment. Of course, that does not mean the human and environmental factors aren’t important anymore. The ranking of these priorities depends on a myriad of factors, including what a student studies and their gender.
Gendered changes in priorities
Are these changes in priorities universal? Well, the gender split gives a definite “yes and no” answer. Less emphasis on work-life balance and friendly work environment is a theme regardless of gender. However, looking at flexible working conditions, we see a jump in its importance for women (+8) and a drop in importance for men (-6). This data aligns with OECD (2020) data indicating that women are increasingly trying to cope with home and childcare responsibilities while balancing a full-time career. Work-life balance is perhaps easier to imagine when we are all at home under one roof, but remote work doesn’t necessarily come with the flexibility to leave a work meeting to help your child login to their Zoom class.
*Rank indicates rating of importance of attribute out of 40
*Arrow indicates change from 2019 to 2020
What does this mean?
For students, finding the right employer can challenge you to choose between the ideal working environment and being pragmatic in the advancement and renumeration aspect of your career path. In light of the current pandemic, this trend is likely to continue. Nevertheless, these priorities are not universally held, as illustrated by gendered differences in the attribute rankings.
Do you agree with these priorities?
Employers are increasingly trying to evaluate these changing priorities in students so they can adapt to attract the best talent. Let’s say you’re an engineer who wants innovation prioritized – never fear – you have the chance to convey your preferences to employers like Google, Unilever, EY, Ford, PepsiCo, and more! Your preferences shape their recruitment initiatives.
— Take Universum’s CareerTest 2021 and have your voice heard by recruiters across all major industries!
