Student experiences during the COVID pandemic, in particular remote learning and the development of online skills, have influenced what graduates are looking for from their future careers. This is one of the key findings from the gradireland 100 Leading Graduate Employers Survey - the largest ever survey of university students in Ireland to determine who are the most sought-after employers of graduates, and the wider aspirations and concerns of graduates as they start out on their working lives.
The Survey of 20,901 third-level students, across 30 institutions in both Northern Ireland and the Republic, was independently conducted by Cibyl Ireland and UK, a leading graduate careers research firm. It found that 50% of students said they would be more likely to look for a job that allows them to work from home and 57% said they would be more likely to look for a job that allows for flexible working. The survey also inquired into graduate salary expectations and their key considerations before taking up a graduate job.
Careers services across Ireland’s university sector drove participation in the online survey amongst students, who completed it through college careers websites and via gradireland.
Commenting on the findings, gradireland Managing Director, Gavan O’Brien, said:
“Covid has completely transformed the graduate recruitment market, resulting in many more opportunities for graduates and the continuing growth of online recruitment processes. There is also a growing realisation among employers of the need to be able to offer remote and flexible working to new graduate recruits.”
“The lifting of pandemic restrictions and a strong economic rebound means that graduates are facing a recruitment landscape that is far more positive than it was this time last year. At that time, many graduate employers froze their recruitment drives and reduced the number of employment and internship opportunities because of the uncertainties during the worst of the pandemic. Many students used this time to gain further skills by completing micro-courses and technical credentialing which is now standing to them with employers.”
