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Eighty percent of employers say they are planning to hire more college graduates in 2018, according to new CareerBuilder research.
The national survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder between April 4 and May 1 and included a sample of 1,012 hiring managers and human resource professionals in the private sector.
Employers hiring recent college graduates this year say the following majors are the most in-demand at their firms:
- Business: 35 percent
- Engineering: 22 percent
- Computer and information sciences: 18 percent
- Engineering technologies: 13 percent
- Communications technologies: 11 percent
- Health professions and related clinical sciences: 11 percent
- Math and statistics: 9 percent
- Science technologies: 7 percent
- Mechanic and repair technologies: 6 percent
- Public administration and social services: 6 percent
- Construction trades: 6 percent
- Communication and journalism: 5 percent
- Education: 5 percent
- Transportation and materials moving: 5 percent
- Liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities: 5 percent
According to the survey, those who are not hiring college grads say it’s because their organization isn’t expanding headcount this year (57 percent) or they need more experienced workers (26 percent).
Employers hiring recent college graduates in 2018 say they’re looking to fill roles in these key areas: While the majority of employers say academic institutions are adequately preparing students for roles needed in their organization (82 percent), that doesn’t necessarily mean graduates have the job-seeking skills needed to land the job.
Employers said that over the past year, more than half of recent college graduates:
Didn’t send a thank you note: 37 percent Didn’t know anything about the company: 35 percent Didn’t submit a cover letter: 31 percent Didn’t ask any questions in the interview: 29 percent Didn’t have professional references: 26 percent Had poor grammar on their resume: 26 percent Had unprofessional pictures on their social media profiles: 21 percent Checked their mobile phone during the interview: 19 percent What Exactly Are Employers Looking For?
Expected starting salaries for recent college graduates break down as follows:
Under $30,000: 21 percent $30,000 to less than $40,000: 23 percent $40,000 to less than $50,000: 22 percent $50,000 and higher: 33 percent