Insights

A blog for leaders who care about recruiting and retaining the next generation of talent.

The Average Entry-Level Salary and Intern Compensation of 2024
Nov 13, 2024

In 2024, early-career salary expectations are influenced by the competitive landscape and Gen Z’s priorities. According to the RippleMatch 2024 Salary Benchmarking Report (available to download for free here), competitive compensation is a top priority for Gen Z talent, many of whom value financial growth potential over other job attributes. This report provides a comprehensive breakdown of salary data across fields, industries, and job functions, with particular insights into the expectations and realities of entry-level roles and internships.

How to Write a Job Description That Appeals to Gen Z Candidates
Nov 07, 2024

Generation Z is now the dominant entry-level cohort, reshaping early career recruitment with new expectations and behaviors. Unlike previous generations, Gen Z candidates often rely solely on the job description to decide whether to apply, with limited additional research into the company beforehand. Recent data collected by RippleMatch shows that 69% of Gen Z candidates read the full job description before applying, but don't seek out further details on the organization until later stages. This makes job descriptions critical real estate for communicating essential information, as they’re often the only impression a candidate will get before deciding to apply.

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Most Students Are Applying for Roles Outside of Their Preferred Job Type and Industry To Find a Job During COVID-19
RippleMatch
During graduation season last year, it was a job seeker’s market. In fact, RippleMatch data found that nearly two-thirds of the Class of 2019 received multiple job offers. But the situation for the Class of 2020 looks very different. Due to COVID-19, the job market has turned and graduating seniors are having a more difficult time finding employment.
What College Students Are Prioritizing When Searching For a Job During COVID-19
RippleMatch
Over the past few years, RippleMatch research has consistently found that Gen Z college students prioritize professional development significantly more than other factors when choosing a job. However, the advent of COVID-19 has complicated the job search process for both candidates and employers. To learn if candidate priorities have changed over the past few months, RippleMatch surveyed 2,210 college students for the Navigating Entry-level Jobs & Internships During COVID-19 report. Despite the recent upheaval in the job market, candidate priorities have not changed as much as might be expected.
College Students Are Continuing On With Their Professional Plans Despite COVID-19
RippleMatch
COVID-19 has upended the job search process, especially for those who are newest to the workforce: college students and recent graduates. In April, RippleMatch released a survey of 2,210 college students to learn how COVID-19 has affected their search for full-time jobs and summer internships. It turns out that even in the middle of a pandemic and record levels of unemployment, most college students are not deterred from pursuing their professional plans.
The Biggest Challenges For Students Searching for a Job During COVID-19
RippleMatch
It’s a stressful time to be a college student. Halfway through the spring semester, most colleges transitioned to remote instruction and canceled major events such as graduation ceremonies. College seniors also have the added stress of finding their first full-time job in the middle of a global pandemic. Last month, RippleMatch conducted a survey of 2,210 college students across 367 universities to learn more about the biggest challenges that college students are facing in their job search during COVID-19. For most students, the biggest job search challenges are not knowing which companies are hiring and not hearing back from employers after submitting an application.
4 Ways to Maintain a Positive Relationship With Student Job Seekers if You Had To Cancel Your Internship Program
RippleMatch
Due to the unexpected circumstances of COVID-19, some employers have had to cancel or alter their internship programs for this summer. Especially when an internship is designed as a recruitment pipeline program, there can be longer-term consequences for employers which are attempting to plan ahead for future hiring. Rescinding an offer—including an internship offer—can damage your company’s brand in students’ views. It can also have tangible, negative consequences for students, including loss of income, loss of the opportunity to build essential work experience, and in cases where students are required to complete an internship for their degree program, even a delay in graduation dates and extended college costs. How can you mitigate this damage and engage your top candidates—those who would have otherwise gone through your internship program this summer and potentially have been converted to new hires—if you have had to cancel your internship?
3 Things That Cause Burnout in Entry-Level Employees – And How to Prevent It
RippleMatch
Even in uncertain times like these, starting a new job is exciting. This is especially true for entry-level employees who have spent their college careers working toward this milestone. However, transitioning into a full-time role – especially with added complications from things like remote work – can be overwhelming for new employees and eventually lead to burnout, defined as emotional & mental exhaustion from periods of prolonged stress.
4 Actionable Ways To Be Inclusive of Neurodiverse Workers
RippleMatch
Recruiting neurodiverse workers is a growing trend in hiring, especially within companies that are spearheading Autism at Work initiatives. Hiring neurodiverse teams has competitive advantages – after Microsoft began Autism at Work, numerous Fortune 500 companies followed suit, and a neurodiverse software testing group in Australia was found to be 30% more productive than their neurotypical colleagues.
Report: How College Students Are Navigating Entry-Level Jobs and Internships During COVID-19
RippleMatch
For most college students, landing that first job or coveted internship is a stressful, but exciting, rite of passage. But the unfolding global health crisis has made taking that first step into a professional career significantly harder for millions of college students.
The Best Technology To Host Recruitment Webinars and Virtual Events: Key Features and Functionality
RippleMatch
For some college recruiters, especially those with limited travel budgets and a national reach, recruiting via webinars is nothing new. Some companies have utilized webinars, videos, social media, and virtual recruiting technology for years. But for those whose recruitment efforts have focused primarily on in-person, on-campus presentations, COVID-19 presents a new challenge – and a new opportunity – to engage with prospective candidates virtually. But how do you choose the right technology?
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