Employers need to offer excellent career development to attract European
graduates, according to research.
Nearly three-quarters of the 7,322 students surveyed claim career
progression is a priority during the three years after graduation, while more
than half say personal growth is important.
More than a third of European engineering, science, and business graduates
view travel as most important.
The Universum Graduate Survey 2001 also shows that graduates are looking for
employers that offer work-life balance, with 52 per cent hoping to achieve this
within three years of graduation. Nearly half demand increasingly challenging
tasks while 45 per cent want to work abroad.
Universum analyst Antje Frauenstein said, "When choosing first
employers European graduates show strong and recurring preferences. Most
important to them is to get a good, fast start into working life, with
extensive opportunities for career development and personal growth."
Telecoms companies are less popular with graduates this year. Nokia is
demoted to second position in the engineering and science graduates’ top 50
employers list. Ericsson and Motorola have also fallen in popularity. Topping
the poll is IT giant IBM.
Management consulting is the most favoured industry with business students,
with McKinsey & Company, The Boston Consulting Group, and Accenture the top
three companies cited.
A number of firms have entered the ideal employers list for the first time.
Newcomers to the top 50 for European engineering and science students include
Airbus, Astra Zeneca and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young.
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New entries in the business students’ rankings include Ferrari and Porsche
AG.
By Katie Hawkins
