- A majority (65%) of students would prefer to meet alumni who work at a company, compared to 43% who would like to meet a campus recruiter.
- Career fairs are the most popular recruiting events; more than three-quarters (77%) of students report having attended or planning to attend one.
- Students seeking internships are more likely than those seeking full-time employment to say on-campus recruiting events are important to their search (67% vs. 49%).
Many college students turn to on-campus career events to learn about internship and job opportunities in their areas of interest. But understanding what students hope to get out of the activities can better equip companies to optimize their recruiting efforts.
A new survey of 5,000 undergraduates finds that a majority of students would prefer to meet employees who started in an entry-level position and progressed in the company (67%), alumni who work there (65%), or current interns and entry-level employees (62%). Fewer students want to talk to a campus recruiter (43%).
Students Most Want to Meet Employees Who Started Entry Level & Alumni
Which employer representative(s) would you prefer to meet and interact with at on-campus recruiting events? Select all that apply.
Students are most interested in hearing about specific career opportunities at recruiting events rather than more general information about a company. Roughly three-quarters of students report wanting to learn about career opportunities (76%) and job descriptions (74%) from individual employers at on-campus events. Almost two-thirds (62%) of students want to hear about resume, application, and interview tips.
While a majority of students agree that hearing about career opportunities is most important, companies seeking diverse talent should be sure to talk about what makes a resume stand out. Female students are more likely than male students to want resume, application, and interview tips (67% vs. 56%). And black students are more likely than white students to want this type of advice (69% vs. 59%).
Female Students are More Likely to Want Resume Tips
What type of information or experiences do you most want from individual employers at on-campus events? Select all that apply.
Career fairs are the most popular recruiting events, while more formal mixers and lectures appeal to fewer students. More than three-quarters (77%) of students report having attended or planning to attend a career fair. Fewer students report having attended an information session (55%), broader networking event (31%), informal hiring mixer (27%), or formal company talk or lecture (27%).
A majority (59%) of students who are actively seeking internships and full-time employment say on-campus recruiting is an important part of their search process. However, those seeking internships are more likely to rely on recruiting events than those seeking full-time employment (67% vs. 49%).
There are also significant differences in on-campus recruiting participation based on gender. While about 6 in 10 male (60%) and female (58%) students say on-campus recruiting is an important part of their job search, male students are more likely to have attended an event. Nearly half (49%) of male students have attended a recruiting event, compared to 38% of female students.
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Methodology: This survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse. Interviews were conducted among a sample of 5,000 full-time and part-time students attending four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. who are part of College Pulse’s American College Student Panel.
