Most Students Are Applying for Roles Outside of Their Preferred Job Type and Industry To Find a Job During COVID-19

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. 

In a recent report titled Navigating Entry-level Jobs & Internships During COVID-19, RippleMatch surveyed 2,210 college students to learn more about their experiences with job searching during a pandemic. One of the biggest takeaways from the report is that the majority of students are now applying for roles outside of their preferred job type and industry in order to secure a position after graduation.

According to the report, 72% of student respondents have expanded their job search to include new role types and 68% are looking outside of their preferred industry. However, these percentages vary greatly based on career type. For example, students in software engineering are least likely to search outside of their role type (54%) or industry (47%). Students in R&D and manufacturing are also less likely than the overall average to pursue different roles or industries. Conversely, students in consulting are most likely to apply for jobs in a different role (91%) or industry (85%). Other fields where students are more likely than average to be open to other roles and industries include analysts, marketing & communications, and teaching. In general, students in fields that are less technical or specialized tend to be more flexible in their job search.

Even in the wake of COVID-19, many employers are still hiring for entry-level positions. But since the job market has tightened and students are expanding their options, these employers will have access to an even bigger pool of talent. With more students considering new types of employers, it’s important to keep online recruitment materials and information up to date so that students can learn more about the company culture, the application process, and (most importantly) that the company is actively hiring. This is especially important as the top challenge identified by student job seekers is uncertainty surrounding a company's hiring status.

We recommend maintaining an active profile on sites such as LinkedIn and RippleMatch, which our survey shows are the most common platforms for students to find jobs. Students are also receptive to hearing directly from recruiters – 80% of respondents said the best way for recruiters to get in touch is to reach out directly through sourcing. For companies actively hiring, now is the perfect time to make connections with new potential candidates from a wider array of academic backgrounds. 

To find out more about how entry-level roles and internships were impacted at the onset of COVID-19, download our Navigating Entry-level Jobs & Internships During COVID-19 report.