Survey reveals new grads’ concerns
May 9, 2012
There's no denying this time of year can be both fulfilling and stressful for soon-to-graduate college students of all ages. Besides the work that comes along with finishing up a semester, those who are finishing their degree program and graduating are looking for jobs and mapping out their next steps.
A recent of the college graduating class of 2012 survey conducted by job search engine website SimplyHired.com revealed that job security is among the biggest concern for many students about to enter the workforce. The majority (33 percent) of new college grads selected job security as the most important characteristic of a potential employer. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) said salary was most important, and another 23 percent said healthcare and other benefits offered were crucial.
"The focus on job security is significant, as this year's graduates entered college during the height of the recession," said Gautam Godhwani, CEO of SimplyHired.com. "We're now beginning to see positive growth in opportunities for this generation of college grads."
Because job security is important to many of the individuals who participated in the survey, most are shying away from working at startup or new businesses. Just 4 percent said a startup is an ideal employer, while 39 percent want to work at a small or medium-sized business and 27 percent were interested in joining a large corporation.
In addition, a significant percentage (19 percent) chose the public sector as their ideal employer and most (78 percent) said they would be open to relocating for a job opportunity.
Most grads plan on staying put once they find a job, too. Of those surveyed, 41 percent said they plan to stay with their employers for at least a year, and another 38 percent want to stay for two or more years.
Even though the job market remains tough, most expressed optimism about the employment environment. Forty-three percent of students surveyed were optimistic about the job market following graduation, compared to 32 percent who were not sure, and 26 percent who were not optimistic.
Regardless of where new graduates end up working, they are likely to enjoy slightly higher salaries than those who graduated last year. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the overall median salary for college graduates is up 4.5 percent to $42,569 for the Class of 2012.
Moms considering obtaining a college degree to increase their earning potential or improve their job marketability should know that help is available to make paying for an education easier. Scholarships for mothers, grants for parents and other financial aid can help offset the high cost of tuition.
