Many employers assume that salary is the first thing that most graduates consider when searching for a job. But following a recent survey commissioned by Orange, it is safe to say that, certainly among the 1000 university leavers questioned, this is not actually the case.
The top five areas that students said were important to them in their first job were:
- Learning experiences - 69%
- Happiness - 58%
- Flexible working - 53%
- Good salary - 51%
- Great colleagues - 43%
Another popular demand was ‘access to technology’ including being able to work remotely, showing that expectations are becoming more varied and more demanding. However, is this focus away from salary just a sign of the times? Were the graduates in the survey saying what they thought employers wanted to hear or has work/life balance become more important to debt stricken graduates than money, even before they start their working life?
We are really interested to hear what you think - tell us what’s important to you - add your comments here!