iCIMS recently published their 2018 Job Outlook Report. I am not going to go through a complete analysis of the report (you can read it by going to this link). I do want to share some interesting insights that I discovered:
HR Entry Jobs Are In Demand But Hard To Fill
“… employers may have trouble filling their most in-demand entry-level role needs (human resources and information technology) as only 16% of seniors want to work in HR roles, and 14% want to work in IT roles”.
The iCIMS report showed that 45% of recruiters surveyed indicated that they expect to hire the most HR entry-level jobs while only 16% of college seniors say that they want entry-level career starts in HR. This gap shows that there are major career opportunities that will go unfilled. I hope that this gap is on the radar with the leadership at SHRM.
College Seniors Are Confident About Their Interviewing Skills
“Most students feel their interpersonal skills are top-notch, with 87% confident they have what it takes to ace a job interview and get the job they want”.
As an outplacement/career transition consultant who has given many hours of volunteer service to college career centers, I can safely say that the majority of graduating seniors I have met do not have the interpersonal skill acumen that they profess. Some of this is experiential – they are young and without a lot of experience. Some of it is also training – they have not had the opportunity to learn the skills of selling value during an interview.
Most College Seniors Are Willing To Be Flexible with Their Career Paths
“Despite their initial confidence, most students soon realize that they may not get a job in their chosen field on the first try after all. In fact, 77% are willing to accept a full-time job in a field unrelated to their major. In 2017, 82% of recruiters said they frequently hired entry-level candidates whose college major did not directly align with or relate to the job position”.
It is encouraging to see that college seniors have a realistic outlook towards starting their careers. Being open to unrelated degree opportunities allows the college seniors to get hired quicker, and opens them up to more potential areas.
Being Passionate About the Job Could Be More Important Than Earning a Relevant Degree
The iCIMS report indicated that 79% of recruiters admit that a student with profound passion and interest in the job (even if an applicant has a less relevant degree) is much more likely to secure the position than someone with a more relevant degree who doesn’t have that same interest.
Work-related Skills and Abilities Matter The Most
College students of all ages should take note that building up relevant work experience starts during college, not afterward. The work experience could be internships, or it can be work that will help develop your interpersonal or professional skill set. Don’t’ laugh, but a job as a Starbucks Barista can show potential employers that you know how to work with customers, that you understand the value of a powerful brand, and you
Only 26% Of College Grads Send A Thank You Message After Their Interview
I was surprised to see that 74% of college grads did not send a thank you message after their interview. Not sending a thank you is a misguided practice that reflects poorly on their perceived professionalism. I am not certain where this protocol breakdown started, but I hope that college career centers take note and work to help their students improve in this area.
Text Messaging Is Becoming A More Preferred Communication Channel For Recruiting
Source: "I Got Your Text" Presentation - Kris Dunn and Tim Sackett
While email is still the most preferred communication channel for college seniors, texting is the second most preferred means of reaching them (and it may soon be the most preferred). Texting is becoming much more common in recruiting overall (I attended in on a really good webinar by Tim Sackett and Kris Dunn on this recently).
College Seniors Still See That Expect to Earn More Money with a Master’s Degree
Source: iCIMS
The iCIMS report shows that 98% of all college seniors (98%) believe that an advanced degree in any career field will earn them more money. It is interesting to note that on average, college seniors expect to earn 50% more with a master’s degree while most employers say they will only pay a 24% premium. The data still shows that college seniors view post-grad work as a path to a more lucrative career.
