Not only do employers look for certain attributes on their candidates’ resumes and want them to possess certain key skills and qualities, but they also highly consider work experience when hiring new graduates.
Nearly 91 percent of employers responding to NACE’s Job Outlook 2017 survey prefer that their candidates have work experience, and 65 percent of the total group indicate that they prefer their candidates to have RELEVANT work experience. The group of respondents having this preference has dominated over the last several years. (See Figure 1.)
Another 26 percent of respondents prefer work experience of any type. Meanwhile, a mere 5 percent this year say that work experience is not a factor when hiring new graduates.
As far as how a graduate’s work experience was gained, more than half of respondents prefer that it comes from an internship or co-op. (See Figure 2.) Standing at 56 percent this year, this group of respondents has fallen some, down from 60 percent of respondents two years ago and 57 percent last year. The remaining 44 percent of respondents have no preference in how work experience was gained.
(Data for the Job Outlook 2017 survey were collected from August 5, 2016, through October 4, 2016. A total of 169 surveys were returned—a 17 percent response rate.)
So, how can you use this information?
- Take advantage of your summers during college to intern, or additional opportunities to do a school year internship, to gain experience in a position related to your future career goals. This will help orient you to the professional world, as well as give you insight into how you fit into this world.
- The Career Services Office holds a number of career/intern fairs and events during the school year as well as employer information sessions to help you ‘network’ (meet employers) and learn about opportunities. Take advantage of these opportunities and be sure to attend.
- Use Nittany Lion Career Network, Penn State’s online job board, to find current openings for internships, part-time, summer positions, and much more. This system is not just for graduating students looking for full-time jobs!
- Check in with your academic department, so they are aware of your interest (they may have leads) and you are aware of their requirements if you want to do your internship for academic credit.
- Set up a LinkedIn profile, and use that site and others to network with professionals in your field and join relevant career and business groups that may lead to job opportunities.
- The Career Services Office is here to help you. Come in to 212 Student Enrichment Center (SEC) to meet with a counselor! We’d love to meet you.