Advice for Employers and Recruiters
93% of Top-Tier Executives Learn From College Grads; Yet, 53% of Companies Not Hiring Grads
William Frierson
Group of college graduates with their degrees, certificates, or diplomas. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
While a majority of company executives say they learn from college graduates, companies don’t appear to be showing much love when it comes to hiring this group of job seekers.
n an April survey, 93% of top-tier executives at global companies said they learn from college graduates. Executive talent management firm, Korn/Ferry, International (NYSE:KFY) conducted the survey from April 18-25, 2013. Further, 80% of respondents said college students teach executives all of the following: social marketing, how to connect with 20-somethings, and how to improve tech skills.
Yet, 53% of executives said their companies are not hiring college graduates in 2013. Of the companies hiring college graduate, 30% are increasing hires for 2013; 70% are reducing hiring levels or keeping them the same.
Of note, 43% of companies have C-level executives that were first hired at the company as a college graduate.
Survey results are as follows:
Q: Do you think that senior level managers learn from new college graduates hired?
Yes – they learn about social marketing 3%
Yes – they learn how to connect with the 20 something demographic 6%
Yes – they improve their skills in technology – especially mobile 3%
Yes – all of the above 80%
No – they learn very little 7%
(total yes, 93%)
Q: Are you hiring college graduates starting in summer/fall 2013?
Yes 47%
No 53%
Q: Compared to 2012, are you hiring more/less/the same number of college graduates this year?
More 30%
Less 36%
The same 34%
Q: Do you have C-level executives at your company that were first hired there as a college graduate?
Yes 43%
No 57%
