While many graduating seniors still worry about hearing back from the company of their dreams and standing out from other applicants, today’s entry-level candidates are enjoying a strong job market that allows them to be more selective about where they apply and ultimately work.
According to a survey conducted for our report The State of the Gen Z Job Search, nearly two-thirds – 62% – of respondents* from the class of 2019 had 2-3 job offers to choose from. Candidates heavily weighed their offer decisions on factors like company culture and professional development opportunities rather than compensation or job security.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers intended to hire nearly 17% more graduates from the class of 2019 than they did from the class of 2018, and job offer acceptance rates for recent graduates fell from 68.2% in 2017 to 66.9% in 2018, according to another NACE study. This favorable job market gives candidates – even those at the entry-level – more leverage when assessing offers and deciding where to start their careers.
Despite the options available to this year’s graduates, 54% of our survey respondents said they accepted the first offer they received. This suggests that companies who begin engaging with candidates early on in the hiring process may find a slight advantage when it comes to securing Gen Z hires. With over half of candidates starting their job search before or during the beginning of their senior year, early engagement should be a crucial part of any healthy university recruiting strategy.
As the class of 2020 goes through the job search process, they will likely be faced with a similar hiring landscape and several offers to choose from. To secure the most talented entry-level candidates and maintain high offer-acceptance rates, employers need to double down on creating a positive candidate experience and showcasing the value propositions of their company through Gen Z-friendly recruitment marketing.
*This group of 1,100 survey respondents were all verified RippleMatch users and hailed from a diverse group of universities, ranging from Ivy Leagues to large public universities to small private institutions. Respondents had varying academic backgrounds and are now employed in a wide range of roles and industries, from technology to healthcare.
Want to know how Gen Z candidates are faring during COVID-19? Download our report here to understand how employment was affected during the onset of COVID-19, and download our report The Gen Z Job Seeker to understand how this generation’s approach to the job search has fundamentally changed.
