WHAT DO NS EMPLOYERS WANT IN RECENT GRADUATES?

Presented by Robyn Webb to the Summit on Youth in the Nova Scotia Economy

DATA SOURCE

• Based on results from the Young Professionals Employment Survey

• A survey of 364 responding employers in HRM conducted in December 2012 and January 2013

• Conducted by GHP in partnership with Fusion Halifax and Clear Picture

• 92% of all respondents had input into the hiring of new staff, with 73% in top management positions

• Responding firms varied broadly in industry, size, and average age of workforce

HOW LIKELY ARE EMPLOYERS TO HIRE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS?

Very Likely Likely Unlikely Very Unlikely Not Sure/Don't Know

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%61%

28%

4% 3% 3%

Likelihood of Hiring Young Professionals in the Next Five Years

1 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 19 Over 200%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%61%

19%

5%

14%

Quantity of Potential Young Professional Hires in Next Five Years

WHAT ARE EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR WHEN HIRING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS?

Minimal requirements for time off

Willingness to work long hours

Available to work evenings or weekends

Salary expectations

Referrals from friends or colleagues

Previous work experience

Education

Can be counted on for excellent results

Enthusiastic attitude about their work

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4.7

5.1

5.9

6.6

6.6

7.6

7.6

8.9

9.2

Average Rating of Important Factors in Hiring Young Professionals

Benefits of Hiring Young Professionals

Energy and enthusiasm; 32%

Finding future leaders of the organization; 23%

Savvy with new tech-nology; 13%

They have fresh ideas; 12%

Potentially easier to train; 9%

Other; 5%

Networking connections to a younger cohort; 4% Few existing loyalties; 1%

This tells us that employers are looking for young professionals that are:

• Enthusiastic and positive about their work• Dependable to get the job done• Have the required technical or “hard” skills• Have “soft” skills as well

EXPECTATIONS OF STARTING SALARIES

<$25k $25k-$35k $35k-$45k $45k-$55k $55k-$65k $65k-$75k >$75k0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

4%

39% 40%

13%

3%1% 0%

Average Employers Perceptions of Reasonable Starting Salaries

<$25k $25k-$35k $35k-$45k $45k-$55k $55k-$65k $65k-$75k >$75k0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

0%2%

12%

21% 22% 21%23%

Average Employers Perceptions of Reasonable Salaries for Person with Ten Years of Experience

Industry $26-$35K $36-$45K $46-$55K $56-$65K $66-$75K

Government/Public Sector ● ◊Finance/Accounting ● ◊Manufacturing ● ◊Health Care ● ◊IT ● ◊Education ● ◊Consulting ● ◊

Average Employers Perceptions of Reasonable Starting and Ten-year Salaries for Select Industries

● =Salary Range for Entry-Level Position ◊=Salary Range for Person with 10 Years of Experience

HOW ARE EMPLOYERS GOING ABOUT LOOKING FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS?

Recruiting Methods

Which do you regularly use as part of your

hiring process?

Which do you have the most success with?

2013 2013

Networking/Word of mouth 81% 35%

Paid Advertising (print, web, radio) 60% 24%

Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) 45% 4%

Co-ops and internships 43% 9%

Recruiters 33% 7%

Campus Recruiting 28% 5%

Succession Planning 26% 2%

Local Employment Office 20% 4%

Other 15% 9%

Which Recruiting Methods do Employers Use in Their Hiring Process?

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

• Build your networkoMany opportunities are not posted or advertisedo Building a network will help to ensure word of

mouth opportunities make their way to you

• Your cover letter and resume should communicate your enthusiasm, dependability, hard and soft skillso Resume and cover letter should be well

researched and customized for each applicationo Should address all of the requirements in the job

posting

QUESTIONS?