Dive Brief:
- Recent college graduates apply to more entry level positions on LinkedIn in June than any other month, according to findings emailed to HR Dive from a LinkedIn report. The majority of graduates (51%) accept jobs in a different place than where they attended school, LinkedIn said.
- Graduates appear to be well prepared for employment; LinkedIn found graduating Gen Zers invested in learning opportunities, taking a particular interest in tech-related skills such as data and artificial intelligence. The top five tech skills they're learning are data visualization, data modeling, Python, web analytics and databases.
- Gen Zers receiving their undergraduate degrees this spring are twice as likely as other generations to endeavor to turn a passion project into a career, LinkedIn said.
Dive Insight:
Employers that are struggling to find talent might be pleased to know that many new grads are moving ahead of the curve by learning tech skills. Graduates' longevity in tech-related fields isn't clear, as studies show that many young people entering the workforce are leaning towards careers in the arts and social services and away from business and finance professions.
Hiring prospects for new grads appear to be good this year; a recent Robert Half study found that 83% of senior managers said they plan to hire people right out of college. A study released in March, however, found that grads are receiving fewer job offers. Those offers may increase if grads are entering the workforce armed with the skills listed in LinkedIn's guide.
To further attract new grads, however, employers will need to keep in mind that Gen Z has different expectations than even millennials did. Gen Z's experience with recruiters is often a deciding factor in their decision to take a job, meaning employers will need to focus more on face-to-face interactions during recruitment to earn the attention of new grads.
