The ability to access social media at work is more important than annual promotions or bonuses for students, new research by Debut has revealed. In total, 68 percent of respondents believe they should be allowed on social media at work and the only benefit more important to students was annual pay rises.
The Expectations of Work report surveyed 12,000 students from Debut’s user base and revealed the ability to access social media at work was more important than nearly all other workplace benefits, including annual promotions, cyclical bonuses, gym memberships, subsidised lunches, company-provided smartphone / laptop / tablet devices, company car and healthcare / dental schemes. Significantly, the research revealed that the workplace benefits students want to receive is markedly different from the benefits they expect to receive from employers, with the exception of annual pay rises that is expected by 85 percent of respondents. Students also expect healthcare / dental schemes (80 percent) and gym memberships (60 percent), suggesting there is a clear disconnect between what students believe they will receive and what is actually most important to this generation. The launch of the Expectations of Work research coincides with the start of the AGR Student Recruitment Conference 2016. Headlined ‘The Recruitment Revolution’, the event focuses on the changing nature of the student recruitment and development market, as well as the need to adapt in order to recruit and retain the best student talent.
Charlie Taylor, CEO of Debut, is presenting at today’s conference, alongside customers EY, Vodafone and Capgemini talking about how mobile is rewriting the rules of ROI for recruitment. The panel discussion will explore how brands can best reach and engage a diverse student talent pool, at a time that 80 percent of students believe it’s harder to get a job today than it was for their parents, according to the research. Vodafone is an example of a top UK employer that is embracing mobile to discover and hire top talent. The company recently selected four female students for three month, paid internships via Debut. Keen to increase candidate diversity, Vodafone discovered and hired the students through the app’s ‘Talent Spotting’ feature for I.T. Solution Architect, E2E Architecture Governance Support and two Portfolio Analysts positions, all within four weeks.
In other findings, the Expectations of Work research revealed that 1 in 4 students (26 percent) believe they should finish work and retire between the ages of 51-55, 12 percent between the ages of 56-60 and 27 percent between the ages of 61-65. These age ranges all fall below the projected state pension age of 67 that is expected even as early as 2026 to 2028, well before this generation will reach this period in their lives. When surveyed on salary expectations for their first graduate job, over a third (34 percent) expect to be earning between £27,000 and £30,000. A broad spectrum of expectations were revealed as 5 percent of students expect to be paid between £15,000 and £18,000 and 5 percent expect to earn over £36,000.
“The expectations and priorities of tomorrow’s workforce have largely changed from previous generations. It is vital that we are aware of this and adapt accordingly. Even the traditional recruitment process isn’t resonating with students, the future of the British workforce, and isn’t delivering the results that today’s top employers need. Organisations must adapt to reach and retain the best talent,” said Charles Taylor, CEO of Debut. Debut is a mobile app that connects students, graduates, and brands for smarter, more convenient career targeting, designed to meet the needs of today’s digital natives and modern brands.
