Millennial Branding and Experience Inc. surveyed 225 employers who provided jobs for students, in order to obtain insights on things like hiring sources, skills in demand, hiring process and experience requirements.
While the study was conducted in the US, I think many of the insights are useful for people in other parts of the world as well.
Here are some questions/response which are especially useful, along with an infographic.
What carries the most weight in the hiring process?
- Relevant courses (69%).
- Referral from a previous boss or professor (65%).
- Leadership positions in on-campus organizations (50%).
- Entrepreneurial experience (29%).
Are social networks used to do background checks?
- Yes (35%).
- No (65%)
Which social networks are used the most for background checks?
- LinkedIn (42%).
- Facebook (40%).
- Google Plus (15%).
- Twitter (2%).
What skills/strengths do employers place a lot of importance on?
- Communication skills (98%).
- Positive attitude (97%).
- Teamwork skills (92%).
What types of students are getting jobs?
- Engineering and Computer Information Systems majors (34%).
- Liberal Arts majors (30%)
- Finance and accounting majors (19%).
Do employers expect students to have internship experience?
- Students should have between one and two internships before graduating (91%).
- Internships should last at least three months for students to gain enough experience (87%).
