WHAT DO THE BRIGHTEST GRADUATES WANT?… · What do the brightest graduates want? is the result of an online survey conducted in December 2016 and January 2017 by Bright Network’s

A look at what Bright Network members want from their career and future employers

WHAT DO THE BRIGHTEST

GRADUATES WANT?

BRIGHT NETWORK RESEARCH REPORT 2017/18

© Bright Network UK Limited 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,

electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, Bright Network UK Limited.

Bright Network, 5th Floor, Goldsmiths House, 137-141 Regent Street, London, W1B 4HZ 0203 011 1612 [email protected] @brightnetwork www.brightnetwork.co.uk

What do the brightest graduates want? 3

CONTENTSFURTHERSTUDY7

CAREERPREFERENCES10

FUTURECAREER16

CAREER BARRIERS19 APPLICATION

BEHAVIOUR25SOCIALMEDIA31

Appendix34

4 Overview of Bright Network

ExecutiveSummary6

About the Research5


We are an innovative platform for employers to reach, engage and recruit the brightest students from all backgrounds.

From the blue chip and established to the high-growth and entrepreneurial, we work with 300+ remarkable companies to help them access the intern and graduate talent they need to grow their business.

Overview of

BRIGHT NETWORK

120,000+ members80,000+ undergraduate members

AAA average A level results

10% Oxbridge

47% more likely to get hired than the average graduate at assessment centre

57% female22% STEM39% BAME

A SNAPSHOT OF OUR NETWORK

85% state-educated80% non-London universities 16% BME

OUR MEMBERS ARE SERIOUSLY BRIGHT

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ARE CRITICAL TO OUR MISSION

4 What do the brightest graduates want?

About the

RESEARCHThis research examines what the brightest graduates want from their future career. It looks at the attributes they seek in an employer, their perceived career barriers and how they approach the application process.

What do the brightest graduates want? is the result of an online survey conducted in December 2016 and January 2017 by Bright Network’s in-house market research team.

All those surveyed are Bright Network members and current students at UK universities, graduating in 2017 or later. Where relevant, data is segmented by gender, graduation year, ethnicity and educational background. All percentages are rounded up to the nearest whole number.

2,678ALL

37%MALE

63%FEMALE

MEMBERS SURVEYED

BACKGROUND & DIVERSITY

GRADUATION YEAR

2017

35%2018

30%2019 & LATER

35%

STEM

26%BME

21%STATE-EDUCATED

41%

RESPONDENTS BY UNIVERSITY

University of WarwickUniversity College LondonUniversity of OxfordDurham UniversityUniversity of Cambridge

Queen Mary University of LondonKing’s College LondonLondon School of Economics and Political ScienceUniversity of BristolUniversity of Manchester


What do the brightest graduates want? is the only research focused on the career preferences, concerns and desires of the most talented undergraduates, breaking down their responses by gender, graduation year, ethnicity and educational background.

Executive

SUMMARY


64% of students will or want to take on further study after completing their undergraduate degree. This decreases by 19% among students in their final year of university.

63% of students say they want to take on further study to improve their future career prospects.

A firm’s financial success, a firm’s commitment to championing diversity and secure employment are factors more highly valued by students when considering a graduate employer than they were last year.

When a firm says it supports diversity & inclusion, 28% of students understand this to mean the firm has a diversity quota.

56% of students want to move to London after graduating, while 20% still have no idea where they want to move to after graduating.

Women’s expected basic annual salary in their first job after graduating is £10,000 less than men’s.

18% of students say contributing to a cause they believe in is the mark of success five year’s after graduating from university, an 157% increase on last year.

60% of students say strong competition from other graduates is a top 3 barrier to pursuing any career path they wish.

8% of BME students say their ethnicity is a top 3 barrier to pursuing any career path they wish.

57% students say not having the necessary technical skills puts them off applying to certain sectors. 55% say not knowing what working in the sector involves puts them off applying to certain sectors.

76% of students believe their degree will help them get ahead in their career.

Men are 17% more confident in their commercial awareness skills than women.

Students believe existing industry experience is highly valued by graduate employers, whereas graduate recruiters rank this as the least important factor when considering candidates for a role.

82% of students abandon internship or graduate role applications and 66% say the main reason they give up on an application is because of the application process itself.

38% of students would reject an internship or graduate role offer they’d already accepted in favour of a more exciting role.

75% of students are comfortable using Facebook to get ahead in their career.

FURTHERSTUDY


FURTHER STUDY


Are you thinking of taking on further study after completing your undergraduate degree?

Why do you want to take on further study after completing your undergraduate degree?

63%23%

9%

5%

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I WANT TO DO AS A CAREER

I ENJOY ACADEMIA

OTHER

I WANT TO IMPROVE MY FUTURE CAREER PROSPECTS

ALL

60%23%

11%

6%

67%20%

6%

7%

61%22%

12%

5%

63%

20%

14%

3%

60%20%

11%

9%

59%26%

13%

2%

MALE

2017 2018 2019+

STATEBMEFEMALE58%

23%

13%

6%

STATE

FURTHER STUDY

45%

13%

4%

31%

7%

42%

23%

5%

25%

5%

43%

14%5%

33%

5%

44%

15%

6%

30%

5%

37%

15%6%

36%

6%

44%

12%4%

35%

5%

48%

16%

3%

28%

5%

MALE

2017 2018 2019+

42%31%

6%5%

16%

NO, I DON’T WANT TO TAKE ON FURTHER STUDY

MY DEGREE INCLUDES A MASTERS QUALIFICATIONYES, I WANT TO

DO ANOTHER FULL-TIME COURSE

YES, I WANT TO DO A PHD ALL

STATEFEMALE BME

YES, I WANT TO DO A MASTERS

What do the brightest graduates want? 1110 What do the brightest graduates want?

CAREERPREFERENCES

CAREER PREFERENCES

When it comes to graduate employer reputation & image, what is most important?*

Fast-growing & innovativeFinancial successInspiring managementExciting products & servicesPrestigeCorporate social responsibility

1

2

3

4

5

6

Fast-growing & innovativeInspiring managementPrestigeExciting products & servicesFinancial successCorporate social responsibility

1

2

3

4

5

6

LAST YEAR’S RESPONDENTSALL

Fast-growing & innovativeInspiring managementFinancial successExciting products & servicesCorporate social responsibilityPrestige

Fast-growing & innovativePrestigeFinancial successExciting products & servicesInspiring managementCorporate social responsibility

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

6 6

FEMALE MALE

Fast-growing & innovativeFinancial successPrestigeExciting products & servicesCorporate social responsibilityInspiring management

Fast-growing & innovativeFinancial successInspiring managementExciting products & servicesCorporate social responsibilityPrestige

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

6 6

BME STATE

* Students were asked to pick and rank their top 3 options


WHEN A FIRM SAYS IT SUPPORTS DIVERSITY & INCLUSION,

28% OF STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THIS TO MEAN THE FIRM HAS A DIVERSITY QUOTA – SEE PAGE 15

When it comes to graduate employer people & culture, what is most important?*

LAST YEAR’S RESPONDENTSALL

FEMALE MALEFriendly & respectful work environmentRecognising & rewarding performanceCreative & dynamic work environmentInternational firmFlexible working conditionsChampioning diversitySupport of gender equality

Friendly & respectful work environmentCreative & dynamic work environmentRecognising & rewarding performanceChampioning diversitySupport of gender equalityFlexible working conditionsInternational firm

1 12 23 34 45 56 67 7

Friendly & respectful work environmentCreative & dynamic work environmentRecognising & rewarding performanceSupport of gender equality Flexible working conditionsInternational firmChampioning diversity

1234567

Friendly & respectful work environmentRecognising & rewarding performanceCreative & dynamic work environmentChampioning diversityFlexible working conditionsInternational firmSupport of gender equality

1234567

1234567

STATEBMEFriendly & respectful work environmentRecognising & rewarding performanceCreative & dynamic work environmentChampioning diversityFlexible working conditionsSupport of gender equality International firm

Friendly & respectful work environmentChampioning diversityCreative & dynamic work environmentRecognising & rewarding performanceFlexible working conditionsInternational firmSupport of gender equality

1234567

What do the brightest graduates want? 13* Students were asked to pick and rank their top 3 options

When it comes to graduate role characteristics, what is most important?*

Professional training & development

Secure employment

Challenging work

Opportunities for travel/relocation

High level of responsibility

Team-orientated work

1

2

3

4

5

6

When it comes to remuneration & advancement, what is most important?*

Clear path for advancement

Competitive base salary

High future earnings

Sponsorship of education & professional qualifications

Competitive benefits

Overtime pay/compensation

1

2

3

4

5

6

ALL

ALLProfessional training & development

Challenging work

High level of responsibility

Secure employment

Opportunities for travel/relocation

Team-orientated work

1

2

3

4

5

6

MALE

* Students were asked to pick and rank their top 3 options

CAREER PREFERENCESCAREER PREFERENCES

29%

57%

8% 3%

27%

62%

5% 3%

CAREER PREFERENCES

14 What do the brightest graduates want? What do the brightest graduates want? 15

Ultimately, what is most important to you when choosing a graduate role?

When a firm says it supports diversity & inclusion, what do you understand by this?

ALL

A FIRM’S PEOPLE & CULTURE

36%

25%22%

17%A FIRM’S REPUTATION & IMAGE

REMUNERATION & ADVANCEMENT WITHIN A FIRM

A ROLE’S CHARACTERISTICS

41%

27%

18%

14% 32%

18%26%

24%41%

19%23%

17%36%

24%

24%

16%

MALE BME STATEFEMALE

CAREER PREFERENCES

3% 3%

28%

61%

5% 3%

28%

60%

6% 4%

MALE

28%

7% 3%

59%3%

THE FIRM HAS A DIVERSITY QUOTA

OTHER

THE FIRM ONLY WANTS TO MEET CANDIDATES FROM UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS

THE FIRM BELIEVES A DIVERSE WORKFORCE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE

ALL

STATEFEMALE BME

I DON’T REALLY KNOW

3% 2%

FUTURECAREER


FUTURE CAREER

What is your expected basic annual salary in your first job after graduating?

FEMALE

£29,139

ALL

£31,564

MALE

£39,648

STATE

£32,103

BME

£32,003

Where do you intend to move to after graduating from university?

16%ABROAD

ABROAD

ABROAD

LONDON56% I HAVE

NO IDEA

I HAVE NO IDEA

OTHER UK REGIONS

OTHER UK REGIONS

OTHER UK REGIONS

I HAVE NO IDEA

20% 8%

12%LONDON67% 14% 7%

18%LONDON56% 20% 6%

ALL

ABROADLONDON I HAVE NO IDEA

OTHER UK REGIONS

12%64% 16% 8%MALE

ABROADLONDON I HAVE NO IDEA

OTHER UK REGIONS

17%56% 20% 7%FEMALE

BME

STATE



FUTURE CAREER

Five years after you graduate, what would career success look like to you?

I HAVE A GOOD WORK-LIFE BALANCE

I’M CONTRIBUTING TO A CAUSE I BELIEVE IN

I’M EARNING A LOT OF MONEY

I’M IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION

I’VE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED PROFESSIONAL

QUALIFICATIONS

I’M MANAGING A TEAM

I’VE STARTED MY OWN BUSINESS

OTHER

26%38%

36%

18%17%

14%

16%14%

22%

13%13%

16%

5%6%

7%

4%3%

5%

6%7%7%

2%2%

3%

157% YOY INCREASE IN STUDENTS SAYING CAREER SUCCESS IS CONTRIBUTING TO A CAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN

67% OF STUDENTS UNDERSTAND WORK-LIFE BALANCE AS BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOBBIES AND INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF WORK

ALL FEMALE MALE

CAREERBARRIERS


What are the biggest barriers to pursuing any career path you wish?*

STRONG COMPETITION FROM OTHER GRADUATES

LACK OF RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

LACK OF NETWORK/CONTACTS

LACK OF SECTOR/CAREER KNOWLEDGE

ECONOMIC FACTORS, E.G. BREXIT

ABSENCE OF ROLE MODELS FROM A SIMILAR BACKGROUND

LACK OF PERSONALISED CAREERS ADVICE

NOT IN POSSESSION OF THE RIGHT SKILLS

DON’T THINK MY DEGREE IS RELEVANT

MY ECONOMIC BACKGROUND

MY ETHNICITY

MY GENDER

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

60% OF STUDENTS SAY STRONG COMPETITION FROM OTHER GRADUATES IS A TOP 3 BARRIER TO PURSUING ANY CAREER PATH THEY WISH

8% OF BME STUDENTS SAY THEIR ETHNICITY IS A TOP 3 BARRIER TO PURSUING ANY CAREER PATH THEY WISH — ON AVERAGE THEY RANK ETHNICITY IN 8TH POSITION

* Students were asked to pick and rank their top 5 options * Students were asked to pick and rank their top 3 options

CAREER BARRIERSCAREER BARRIERS

What puts you off applying to certain sectors?*

I HAVE NO INTEREST IN THE INDUSTRY

I DON’T HAVE THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL SKILLS

I DON’T KNOW WHAT WORKING IN THIS SECTOR INVOLVES

I DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT CONTACTS/NETWORK

THE SECTOR DOESN’T FEEL INCLUSIVE

I’M TOO DIFFERENT TO THE SECTOR STEREOTYPE

ABSENCE OF ROLE MODELS FROM A SIMILAR BACKGROUND

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

57% 55%OF STUDENTS SAY NOT HAVING THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL SKILLS IS A TOP 3 REPELLENT

26%OF STUDENTS SAY THE SECTOR NOT FEELING INCLUSIVE IS A TOP 3 REPELLENT

OF STUDENTS SAY NOT KNOWING WHAT WORKING IN THE SECTOR INVOLVES IS A TOP 3 REPELLENT


CAREER BARRIERS


Do you believe your degree will help you get ahead in your career?

6%

6%

76%ALL

18%

YES6%

83%

7%10%

71%10%

19%

72% 7%

21%

MALE

2017

FEMALE BME

2018

STATE

2019+

I DON’T KNOW

NO

20% 16%4%

7%73% 80%

73% 75%

19%

8%

18%

7%

What would help you feel more confident in pursuing any career path you wish?

ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING

TAILORED & PERSONAL CAREERS ADVICE

HEARING FROM RECENT GRADUATES

NETWORKING EVENTS

ADVICE FROM SENIOR BUSINESS LEADERS

TOP TIPS FROM RECRUITERS

COMMERCIAL AWARENESS ADVICE

1234567

How would you rate yourself in these key skills?*

6.8 6.36.3 6.05.8

COMMERCIAL AWARENESS

VERY POORLY 0

10

5

VERY STRONGLY

7.0 7.06.8 6.55.8

NEGOTIATION & PERSUASION

7.8 7.57.3 7.07.0

CONFIDENCE

STATEFEMALE MALE BMEALL

* Students were asked to rate themselves in each skill out of four stars. The average star rating was then converted into a score out of 10.

CAREER BARRIERS


What do you think graduate employers value most in candidates?

EMPLOYERSMEMBERSPASSION FOR THE BUSINESS

COMMUNICATION

A 2.1 OR ABOVE IN THEIR DEGREE

PROBLEM-SOLVING

CONFIDENCE


ORGANISATION

LEADERSHIP | GOOD A LEVELS

EXISTING INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

A 2.1 OR ABOVE IN THEIR DEGREE

PASSION FOR THE BUSINESS

EXISTING INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

COMMUNICATION

CONFIDENCE

PROBLEM-SOLVING


LEADERSHIP

ORGANISATION

GOOD A LEVELS

11

22

33

44

55

66

77

99

8810

10

CAREER BARRIERS

APPLICATION BEHAVIOUR



67%

17%

16%58%

21%

21%

60%

21%

19%

59%22%

19%

65%

15%

20%

63%

16%

21%

68%

15%

17%

64%17%

19%ALL

How important is it to meet a firm’s representatives before applying for a role with them?

QUITE IMPORTANTIt’s helpful to speak to the firm’s representative but I’d still apply without

VERY IMPORTANTI’d only apply if I’d actually spoken to someone from the firm

NOT THAT IMPORTANTI would definitely apply for a role even if I hadn’t met the firm

MALE

2017 2018 2019+

BME STATEFEMALE


12%

50% 34%

4%19%

42%

37%

2%

19%

44%

33%

4%

16%

48%31%

5%

12%

49%37%

2%

14%

47%36%

3%

9%

52% 35%

4%

When applying for insight days, internships or graduate programmes, on average how many applications do you submit?

MALE

2017 2018 2019+

FEMALE BME STATE

14%

48%34%

4%

ALL

JUST 1I know exactly where I want to work

2 TO 6I know what I want and these firms offer it

7 TO 15I’ve done my research but I don’t want to spread myself too thinly

OVER 16I want to give myself the best chance of success

28 What do the brightest graduates want? 28 What do the brightest graduates want?



35%

17% 8%

40%ALL

When applying for insight days, internships or graduate programmes, how many applications do you give up on?

NONE I ABANDON MOST APPLICATIONS

1 OR 2I COMPLETE MOST APPLICATIONS

82% OF STUDENTS ABANDON APPLICATIONS

38%

14%9%

39%FEMALE

30%

25% 6%

39%MALE


What is the main reason you usually give up on an application?

66% OF STUDENTS ABANDON AN APPLICATION BECAUSE OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS

30%

14% 41%

11%4%

THE APPLICATION PROCESS WAS UNCLEAR

THE APPLICATION PROCESS WAS TOO LONG

I REALISED IT WASN’T THE RIGHT ROLE FOR ME

OTHER

THE APPLICATION PROCESS WAS TOO HARD

29%

15% 41%

10%5%

FEMALE

25%

12%

50%

9%4%

MALE

ALL


If you had already accepted an internship or graduate role offer, what would make you reject this in favour of another opportunity?

MORE EXCITING ROLE

MORE PRESTIGIOUS FIRM

BIGGER SALARY

BETTER LOCATION

BETTER EXPERIENCE DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS

OTHER

REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH RECRUITERS

JOINING BONUS

33%41%

19%26%

17%19%

9%10%

8%7%

3%3%

2%

1%2%

0%

38%

21%

19%

9%

8%

3%

1%

1%


SOCIAL MEDIA

FEMALE

MALE

ALL


SOCIAL MEDIA

Are you comfortable using these social media channels to get ahead in your career?

ALLFACEBOOK

WHATSAPP

YOUTUBE

INSTAGRAM

SNAPCHAT

55%

29%

39%

43%

75%

SOCIAL MEDIA

How often do you use LinkedIn?

DAILY

A FEW TIMES A WEEK

EVERY FEW WEEKS

NOT VERY OFTEN

NEVER

7%

21%

28%

16%

28%

17%

12%

33%

19%

19%29%

34%

18%

14%

25%

9%

10%

25%

18%

16%

31%

14%

15%

27%

15%

STATE

FEMALE

MALE

BME

ALL

YES

APPENDIXRESPONDENTS BY UNIVERSITY

University of WarwickUniversity College London

University of OxfordDurham University

University of CambridgeQueen Mary University of London

King’s College LondonLondon School of Economics and Political Science

University of BristolUniversity of ManchesterUniversity of Nottingham

University of ExeterUniversity of Birmingham

Imperial College LondonUniversity of KentUniversity of YorkCardiff University

University of SurreyUniversity of Southampton

Royal Holloway

RESPONDENTS BY DEGREE SUBJECTArts & Humanities

Biosciences & MedicineBusiness, Economics, Social & Political Sciences

Languages & LiteratureLaw

STEM

36%

9%9%

2%2%2%2%2%

3%3%3%3%3%

4%4%4%4%

5%5%

6%6%6%

7%

9%11%

26%


www.brightnetwork.co.uk

5th Floor, Goldsmiths House, 137-141 Regent Street

London, W1B 4HZ

[email protected] 011 1612

@brightnetwork

Documents

WHAT DO THE BRIGHTEST GRADUATES WANT?… · What do the brightest graduates want? is the result of an online survey conducted in December 2016 and January 2017 by Bright Network’s