What Do New Grads Really Want?

A 2017 survey published by LaSalle Network, a vaunted staffing and recruiting firm based in Chicago, says college graduates lead the way in workplace trends that are altering the way companies hire people. After the Great Recession's effects subsided, firms recognized that they needed to invest more capital in recruiting so they could compete for top talent coming out of college. Examine some takeaways from the LaSalle Network survey of more than 6,000 graduates.

Earlier Starts

College graduates start their job search earlier than before. Nearly 90 percent of the graduates started looking for jobs three months before receiving their diplomas. Around 50 percent began to seek employment from six to nine months ahead of graduation. Tools such as the college's career center, LinkedIn and specialized webpages from companies that target grads all make the search process easier.

Workplace Culture

Workplace culture, and firms where college graduates feel as if they are making a difference, seems to be more important than office perks when it comes to landing a position. A vast number of those surveyed said they would rather work in an environment where there is strong collaboration among everyone at the firm. Entry-level employees want to be able to speak to upper management and executives. Graduates also value strong lines of open communication. Compensation is important, but finding a great place to work also has a high value.

Personal Growth

College graduates cite personal growth as the top reason for finding a specific position. Graduates want to have the tools they need to leverage their entry-level job into something greater as they progress through their careers. Firms should have robust training programs that invest in an employee's future.

These three main factors all contribute to why an employee wants to work for a particular company. Finding the perfect match appears to be a driving force behind the youngest generation of workers. As such, there is a lot of competition for the top jobs.

Tips of College Graduates

A highly competitive job market means it could be difficult for unprepared graduates to land a job in their chosen field. A 2016 survey from GradStaff revealed that as many as 70 percent of grads have trouble finding jobs related to their degree. The survey cited a lack of experience in how to conduct a job search as an obstacle to employment. Nearly half of the respondents to this survey said they were unsure how to put their majors to good use, while three-fourths didn't know what companies were good fits for them.

Graduates have several resources at their disposal. The career center is the first place to start. Attending special recruiting events on campus helps alleviate the stress of finding a job. This puts graduates in touch with professionals who know what a recruit needs to have in order to earn a job there. Events such as hackathons, datathons and other gamified events help companies find top talent. Developing soft skills, such as problem solving, communication and leadership, is another thing graduates can do to find a position more easily.

College graduates have a lot to look forward to when it comes to a great job with decent pay. All they have to do is plug into the right tools to jumpstart their professional lives and to discover career bliss.

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