March 2014 
 
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Early Career Candidates: What are They Looking For?

So, you've graduated from college with that coveted degree and you're ready to find your first real job! You put together your resume, proofread it several times and start sending it out. You spend a couple hours each day searching the online job boards, networking with other students and professors and emailing your resume and cover letter to your favorite companies but, what exactly is it you are looking for in this job hunt? Is it a 'cool' job at your favorite company? Financial stability? A flexible schedule?

 

A 2012 survey of college seniors conducted by Universum found the top priority among graduating college seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or above to be financial security. A steady paycheck to cover living costs and student loans is the first thing these students looked for while searching for prospective jobs.

 

The next most important features of a job or prospective employer were: the possibility for advancement within the company, job training, and professional and personal growth.

 

Aside from financial and professional stability, it's no surprise that another highly rated job attribute among young college graduates is mobility and a flexible schedule. This is a generation that is very mobile, and they are interested in jobs that will let them adhere to the philosophy of "work hard, play hard". The idea of a real work-life balance is very important to these job seekers, whether that means a flexible PTO policy or being able to work from outside of the traditional office setting.

 

The final attribute that early career candidates rated as 'very important' was that the work they are doing be meaningful. This generation wants to care about their work and know that they are having an impact on other people's lives - locally, nationally, and internationally.

What Do Employers Look for In An Early Career Candidate?

What makes an early career candidate attractive to prospective employers?

 

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), there are five personal qualities that employers look for in recent college graduates. The NACE Job Outlook survey found that the number one feature is the candidate's ability to work in a team environment, followed closely by their verbal communication skills.

 

Another important attribute for early career candidates to possess, according to the NACE survey, is the ability to make strong decisions and creatively solve problems. Employers are looking for potential employees who are confident in their knowledge and ability to handle situations in the workplace, from every day decisions to coming up with out of the box ways to problem solve.

 

The ability to obtain and process information quickly and efficiently is another significant quality for any new job seeker to have. The NACE survey found that having this ability was the fourth most important trait that a prospective candidate could have. The fifth most vital quality is having the ability to plan, organize, and prioritize their work.

 

These personal characteristics were also found to be desired by the companies that responded to the Universum survey referenced in the article above, along with a few others. Of the businesses that responded to this survey, 13 percent named international orientation as an important quality for early career candidates to possess while 7 percent mentioned they would like a candidate who is emotionally stable.

 

While all of these characteristics are great to have in an ideal candidate, how do you really know what you are getting with a potential hire? Is there a way to reduce the risk of hiring an early career candidate while you and they get a feel for your open position? Of course! Mary Kraft's Temp2Hire service is the answer - let us assume the risk of your new hire while giving you a chance to ensure you have hired the right person for the job.

 

As an employer, are there any specific qualities you would look for in an early career candidate versus any other candidate? Do the personal attributes found in these two surveys seem accurate? Let us know!

Featured Employee

Quantia Gibson

 

 

Quantia has been employed through Mary Kraft Staffing and HR Solutions since February 2012. 

 

Tia is currently working at University Health Services for Johns Hopkins.

 

Quantia has always been a dedicated worker and very passionate about working in the medical field. When University Health Services called asking for someone to help in their office for a few days, Quantia came to the rescue and she has been there for 5 months! Her supervisor says, "Tia is doing a great job. She presents well and is really liked by both providers and staff, as well as the students we serve. She is an exemplary employee. She has shown herself to be dedicated and conscientious. Tia is a team-player and an all-around good person to be in this particular position."

 

 

Thank you Tia, for representing the type of dedication, hard work, and determination that Mary Kraft strives to provide from our employees.

 

Way to go, Tia!

 

We are proud to recognize Quantia Gibson as 

Mary Kraft Staffing & HR Solutions' Employees of the Month, February 2014!