First year attitudes to work survey 2014

First Year Attitudes to Work Survey 2014

The aims, plans and attitudes of first year undergraduates

We asked 1,500 first year undergraduates from a variety of academic disciplines about their plans for finding out about careers, the sectors that interest them and their awareness of the opportunities available. This is the only large scale career sector survey targeting first years only and, in addition, the responses can be cut by gender, pre-university education and domicile .

Created by Chris Phillips and Emma Newton

Information & Research, GTI Media, August 2014

Information in this presentation not to be reproduced or used without the consent of the writers which will normally be given

Facts and demographics• The survey was conducted online in May 2014• First year undergraduates only were invited to complete the

survey• We received 1,504 responses from over 70 different universities• 62% women, 38% men• 73% UK nationals, 17% international, 10% EU• 60% state educated, 17% privately educated, 23% educated

outside UK• 23% arts degrees, 17% management/business, 14 % law, 10%

social science, 36% science and engineering

Slide deck

• Combined findings (slide 4 onwards)

• Data Cut 1: Male v Female (slide 22)• Data Cut 2: State educated v privately educated v

educated outside UK (slide 41) • Data Cut 3: UK national v EU v international (slide

59)

School le

aver pro

grammes

Apprentice

ships

Part-time or d

istance

learn

ing progra

mmes

47 62 5914

25 1939 12 21

Before you came to university, how aware were you of the alternatives to taking a

degree?

Aware but not interested Aware and did considerUnaware

Science

and re

searc

hOth

er

Law (s

olicito

rs)

Public se

ctor

Engin

eering

Media

Accountan

cy an

d financial m

anag

ement

Law (b

arriste

rs)

Investm

ent ban

king a

nd investm

ent

IT and te

chnology

Mark

eting

Bankin

g and In

suran

ce

Man

agement c

onsulti

ng

Constructi

on and ci

vil engin

eering

Retail

Property

17%

11%9% 9% 9%

7% 6% 6% 5% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% 2% 1%

Which of the following sectors are you most interested in working in when you graduate?

Please choose ONE.

A job that is perceived as high status

A job that enables me to work outside the UK

A job with clear progression

A job leading to a recognised professional qualification

A job that is intellectually challenging

A job that benefits society and communities

A secure job

A very well-paid job

A job that really interests me

3%

3%

4%

4%

8%

9%

9%

11%

49%

What attracts you to a career in your chosen sector? Options ranked No. 1

3% 8%

28%

47%

14%

Are you on LinkedIn?

Yes, I actively engage in groups/discussion Yes, I’m just starting to join groups/discussionYes, I’ve got a profile but haven’t really used it No, I haven’t got round to it yetNo, I don’t see the point

54%

33%

12% 1%

How important to your chances of getting a graduate job is having good quality work experience/internships on your CV?

Vital Very Important Important Not Important

70%

59%

39%32%

24% 20%

Where do you go for information and advice on internships and work experience?

17%

34%

49%

Other than lecturers and speakers, do you know anybody working in your preferred sector who made you interested in a career there?

Yes, a family member Yes, someone other than family No

31%

36%

33%

Have you spoken to this person/people to get practical help in apply-ing for an internship or a job in this sector?

Yes, they were very helpful Yes, they gave me a little help No

Very confident

Confident

Fairly confident

Not very confident

Not confident at all

7%

15%

33%

37%

8%

If you are applying/have applied for internships/vacation programmes this year, how

confident are you in finding one?

Just the one

2-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

More than 20

4%

23%

32%

18%

9%

15%

How many applications do you think it will take you to land an internship/vacation programme?

38%

50%

12%

Are you happy with the opportunities offered to you on campus to meet employers?

Yes, I'm happy Fairly happy, but could be more No

From a very early age

At secondary school or college

In my last year at school/college

I haven't started planning yet

10%

32%

37%

21%

When did you start seriously thinking about and planning for your career after university?

The type of work on offer

The training and development offered

The reputation of the employer

The location

The starting salary

The people I meet at Fairs and during the recruitment process

75%

64%

52%

50%

48%

9%

What three factors did you/will you take into account when choosing an employer? Please choose the THREE that are most important to

you.

Has a diverse workforce

Takes responsibility for environmental issues

Works to support local communities

Has a charity fundraising scheme

29

25

24

14

48

47

51

48

23

28

25

38

How important is it that a prospective employer...

Vital Fairly ImportantIt wouldn't influence my decision

My work experience

My class of degree

My performance at interviews/assessment centres

My university

My personal skills

My extra-curricular experience

My A level/Scottish Highers points

My friends or family contacts

59%

44%

37%

28%

25%

11%

2%

1%

When it comes to applying for a graduate job, which TWO of the following factors do you think will be most important in getting you hired? (Please tick

TWO only)

Doing an internship

Having played an active or senior role in a club or society (eg sport, drama, debating…)

Having worked as a volunteer (eg in education, conserva-tion, in a charity shop)

Having had a part-time or summer job while studying (eg bar work, shop work)

Having undertaken independent travel overseas

78%

45%

37%

33%

7%

Which TWO of the following extra-curricular activities do you think might help you most to get a job when

you graduate? (Please tick TWO only)

Very confident

Confident

Fairly confident

Not very con-fident

Not confident at all

10%

23%

42%

22%

4%

How confident are you in getting a graduate job within six months of graduation?

Less than £15,000

£16,000 to £20,000

£21,000 to £25,000

£26,000 to £30,000

£31,000 to £40,000

£41,000 to £50,000

More than £50,000

13%

36%

30%

12%

7%

2%

1%

How much do you expect to earn in your first graduate job in terms of annual salary?

DATA CUT 1

Male v Female Undergraduate

Reta

il

Med

ia

Publ

ic se

ctor

Oth

er

Mar

ketin

g

Law

(bar

riste

rs)

Law

(sol

icito

rs)

Scie

nce

and

rese

arch

Man

agem

ent c

onsu

lting

Acco

unta

ncy

and

finan

cial m

an-

agem

ent

Prop

erty

Bank

ing

and

Insu

ranc

e

Cons

truc

tion

and

civil

engi

neer

ing

Inve

stm

ent b

anki

ng a

nd in

vest

men

t

Engi

neer

ing

IT a

nd te

chno

logy

10% 22% 23% 24% 29% 31% 32% 32% 33% 42% 42%62% 64% 64% 68% 70%

90% 78% 77% 76% 71% 69% 68% 68% 67% 58% 58%38% 36% 36% 32% 30%

Which of the following sectors are you most in-terested in working in when you graduate? Please

choose ONE.

Male Female

A job th

at rea

lly in

terest

s me

A very

well-paid

job

A job th

at ben

efits

socie

ty an

d communities

A secu

re job

A job th

at is i

ntellec

tually c

hallen

ging

A job w

ith cle

ar pro

gressi

on

A job le

ading t

o a rec

ognise

d profes

sional

qualificati

on

A job th

at en

ables

me t

o work

outside t

he UK

A job th

at is p

erceiv

ed as

high st

atus

45%

15%9% 8% 8% 4% 4% 3% 3%

51%

8% 8% 9% 9%4% 5% 3% 3%

What attracts you to a career in this sector? Op-tions ranked No. 1

Male Female

4%

10%

32%

43%

12%

2%

7%

26%

49%

16%


Male Female


55%

31%

13%

1%

54%

35%

11%

1%

How important to your chances of getting a graduate job is having good quality work exper-

ience/internships on your CV?

Male Female

27%

24%

15% 15%

10% 10%

30%

24%

17%

12%

9%7%


Male Female


18%

37%

45%

16%

33%

51%

Other than lecturers and speakers, do you know anybody working in your preferred sector who

made you interested in a career there?

Male Female


33%

36%

31%30%

36%34%

If so, have you spoken to this person/people to get practical help in applying for an internship

or a job in this sector?

Male Female

Very confident Confident Fairly confident Not very confident Not confident at all

10%

18%

35%

31%

6%5%

13%

32%

41%

9%

If you are applying/have applied for in-ternships/vacation programmes this year,

how confident are you in finding one?

Male Female

Just the one 2-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 More than 20

5%

27%

31%

17%

6%

13%

3%

21%

32%

18%

11%

16%


Male Female


42%46%

11%

35%

52%

13%


Male Female

From a very early age At secondary school or college

In my last year at school/college

I haven't started planning yet

8%

32%

42%

18%

11%

32%35%

22%


Male Female

24%

19%16%

18%21%

3%

26%

14%17% 17%

22%

3%

What three factors did you/will you take into account when choosing an employer? Please choose the THREE

that are most important to you.

Male Female

Has a diverse workforce Takes responsibility for environmental issues



34%

29%

25%

13%

31%

26% 27%

16%

How important is it that a prospective employer...Factors considered 'vital'

Male Female




My personal skills

My university


My class of degree

My work experience

1%

2%

5%

13%

16%

17%

20%

26%

1%

1%

5%

12%

12%

18%

22%

29%

When it comes to applying for a graduate job, which TWO of the following factors do you think will be most im-portant in getting you hired? (Please tick TWO only)

Female Male

41%

24%

16%14%

3%

37%

21%17%

21%

3%

Which TWO of the following extra-curricular activit-ies do you think might help you most to get a job

when you graduate? (Please tick TWO only)

Male Female


15%

30%

39%

14%

2%

7%

18%

43%

27%

6%


Male Female

Less than £15,000

£16,000 to £20,000

£21,000 to £25,000

£26,000 to £30,000

£31,000 to £40,000

£41,000 to £50,000

More than £50,000

9%

28%

32%

17%

9%

3% 2%

16%

40%

28%

9%

5%

1% 1%


Male Female

DATA CUT 2

State educated v Privately educated v Educated

abroad

Scien

ce an

d resea

rch

Public sec

torOther

Law (s

olicitors)

Media

Engin

eerin

g

Accountan

cy an

d financia

l man

agem

ent

Law (b

arrist

ers)

Marketi

ng

Investm

ent b

ankin

g and in

vestm

ent

IT an

d tech

nology

Bankin

g and In

suran

ce

Constructi

on and civ

il engin

eerin

g

Manag

emen

t consu

ltingReta

il

Propert

y

20%12% 11% 9% 8% 7% 7% 5% 4% 4% 4% 4% 2% 2% 2%

12%

5% 10% 14%7% 6% 4% 7% 6% 10% 3% 6%

1% 4% 3%

13%

5%

13% 7%

6% 14%5% 5% 4% 4%

7% 5%4% 6% 1%

Which of the following sectors are you most interested in working in when you graduate? Please choose ONE.

In the state sector In the private or independent sector At a school or college outside the UK

A job th

at re

ally i

ntere

sts m

e

A secu

re jo

b

A very

well-paid

job

A job th

at benefits

socie

ty an

d communities

A job th

at is i

ntelle

ctuall

y chall

enging

A job w

ith cle

ar pro

gressi

on

A job le

ading t

o a re

cogn

ised pro

fessional

qualificati

on

A job th

at enab

les me to

work

outside th

e UK

A job th

at is p

erceive

d as high

statu

s

51%

10% 9% 9% 8%4% 4% 3% 2%

50%

8%13%

6%10%

2% 5% 3% 4%

42%

8%12% 10% 9% 6% 6% 3% 4%

What attracts you to a career in this sector? Options ranked No. 1


Yes, I ac

tively

engage

in gr

oups/disc

ussion

Yes, I’m

just

starti

ng to jo

in groups/d

iscussi

on

Yes, I’ve

got a

profile but h

aven’t r

eally u

sed it

No, I hav

en’t got r

ound to it

yet

No, I don’t s

ee the point

2%7%

25%

50%

16%

3%10%

32%

41%

14%

3%

11%

33%

42%

10%




56%

31%

12%

1%

50%

34%

15%

2%

50%

38%

10%

1%

How important to your chances of getting a graduate job is having good quality work experience/internships

on your CV?


To in

tern

et job sit

es like

targe

tjobs.c

o.uk

Specia

list publica

tions such

as TA

RGETjobs

To m

y cam

pus care

ers se

rvice

Universi

ty So

ciety

To m

y tuto

r

To m

y frie

nds and fa

mily

30%

13%

24%

7%10%

15%

25%

14%

24%

9% 9%

19%

28%

12%

24%

10% 10%

16%




14%

33%

53%

22%

37%

41%

19%

39%42%

Other than lecturers and speakers, do you know anybody working in your preferred sector who made

you interested in a career there?



30%

35% 35%35%

41%

24%

29%

36%34%

Have you spoken to this person/people to get prac-tical help in applying for an internship or a job in this

sector?



5%

13%

31%

42%

9%8%

15%

38%

33%

7%

10%

19%

35%

28%

8%

If you are applying/have applied for internships/vaca-tion programmes this year, how confident are you in

finding one?


Just the one

2-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

More than 20

3%

20%

33%

19%

10%

16%

4%

26%

30%

18%

9%

14%

5%

29%

29%

15%

8%

14%


At a school or college outside the UK In the private or independent sector In the state sector


36%

52%

12%

40%

46%

14%

41%

47%

11%



From a

very

early a

ge

At seco

ndary sc

hool or c

ollege

In my l

ast ye

ar at

school/c

ollege

I hav

en't star

ted plan

ning yet

7%

32%37%

23%

11%

33%37%

20%17%

32%

38%

13%


In the state sector In the private or independent sectorAt a school or college outside the UK

26%

16%18% 16%

21%

3%

26%

17%14%

19% 19%

4%

23%

17%14%

19%24%

3%

What three factors did you/will you take into account when choosing an employer? Please choose the THREE

that are most important to you.


Has a diverse workforce Takes responsibility for environmental issues



32%

26% 27%

14%

28%26% 27%

18%

32%29%

24%

14%

How important is it that a prospective employer...Factors considered Vital.





My personal skills

My university


My class of degree

My work experience

1%

1%

5%

11%

11%

18%

24%

30%

1%

1%

6%

12%

16%

20%

21%

24%

0%

1%

7%

16%

16%

17%

15%

27%

When it comes to applying for a graduate job, which TWO of the following factors do you think will be most important in getting you hired? (Please tick TWO only)

At a school or college outside the UK In the private or independent sector In the state sector

38%

23%19% 16%

3%

41%

26%

15% 15%

4%

40%

19% 19% 18%

4%





7%

19%

43%

25%

5%

10%

24%

41%

22%

3%

16%

31%

36%

14%

3%



Less than £15,000

£16,000 to £20,000

£21,000 to £25,000

£26,000 to £30,000

£31,000 to £40,000

£41,000 to £50,000

More than £50,000

14%

37%

31%

12%

4%2%

0%

11%

37%

24%

10%13%

2% 3%

12%

32% 31%

13%

8%

2% 2%



DATA CUT 3

UK national v EU national v International student

Scien

ce an

d resea

rchOther

Public sec

tor

Law (s

olicitors)

Media

Engin

eerin

g

Accountan

cy an

d financia

l man

agem

ent

Law (b

arrist

ers)

Investm

ent b

ankin

g and in

vestm

ent

Marketi

ng

Bankin

g and In

suran

ce

IT an

d tech

nology

Constructi

on and civ

il engin

eerin

gReta

il

Manag

emen

t consu

lting

Propert

y

19%11% 11% 9% 8% 7% 6% 6% 5% 5% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2%

16%

14%4% 7% 11%

6% 5% 3% 3% 1% 8% 11%3% 1% 6%

7%

11%

4%9% 2% 17%

6%6% 6% 5%

5%7%

4%2%

8%

Which of the following sectors are you most interested in working in when you graduate? Please choose ONE.

UK national An EU national (i.e non UK) International Student

A job th

at re

ally i

ntere

sts m

e

A very

well-paid

job

A secu

re jo

b

A job th

at benefits

socie

ty an

d communities

A job th

at is i

ntelle

ctuall

y chall

enging

A job w

ith cle

ar pro

gressi

on

A job le

ading t

o a re

cogn

ised pro

fessional

qualificati

on

A job th

at enab

les me to

work

outside th

e UK

A job th

at is p

erceive

d as high

statu

s

52%

9% 9% 9% 8% 4% 4% 3% 2%

45%

13% 9% 6% 9%4% 6% 2% 6%

39%

15%9% 10% 7% 4% 7% 5% 4%

What attracts you to a career in this sector? Options ranked No. 1


Yes, I ac

tively

engage

in gr

oups/disc

ussion

Yes, I’m

just

starti

ng to jo

in groups/d

iscussi

on

Yes, I’ve

got a

profile but h

aven’t r

eally u

sed it

No, I hav

en’t got r

ound to it

yet

No, I don’t s

ee the point

2%7%

26%

49%

15%

4%11%

29%

43%

12%

3%10%

38% 40%

10%




56%

32%

11%

1%

52%

33%

13%

1%

47%

37%

15%

1%

How important to your chances of getting a graduate job is having good quality work experience/intern-

ships on your CV?


To in

tern

et job sit

es like

targe

tjobs.c

o.uk

Specia

list publica

tions such

as TA

RGETjobs

To m

y cam

pus care

ers se

rvice

Universi

ty So

ciety

To m

y tuto

r

To m

y frie

nds and fa

mily

30%

13%

24%

7% 10%16%

29%

13%

24%

7%10%

16%

26%

13%

23%

12%9%

17%




15%

33%

52%

23%

38% 39%

20%

41% 39%

Other than lecturers and speakers, do you know anybody working in your preferred sector who made

you interested in a career there?



32%

36%33%

26%

37% 37%

32%

38%

30%

Have you spoken to this person/people to get practical help in applying for an internship or a

job in this sector?



6%

13%

31%

41%

9%7%

20%

32%

36%

5%

10%

19%

42%

24%

5%

If you are applying/have applied for internships/vacation programmes this year, how confident are

you in finding one?


Just the one

2-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

More than 20

3%

20%

34%

19%

10%

15%

6%

28%

27%

17%

9%

14%

5%

34%

26%

14%

6%

14%


International Student An EU national (i.e non UK) UK national


36%

52%

12%

42%

49%

10%

43% 44%

13%



From a

very

early a

ge

At seco

ndary sc

hool or c

ollege

In my l

ast ye

ar at

school/c

ollege

I hav

en't star

ted plan

ning yet

8%

32%36%

24%

15%

28%

44%

13%16%

33%39%

11%



26%

16% 18% 17%21%

3%

25%

18%14%

18%23%

2%

22%18%

15%19% 22%

4%

What three factors did you/will you take into account when choosing an employer? Please choose the

THREE that are most important to you.


Has a d

iverse

workf

orce

Take

s resp

onsibilit

y for e

nvironmental

issues

Works

to su

pport local

communities

Has a c

harity

fundraisin

g sch

eme

31% 27% 28%

14%

33% 30%22%

14%

34%25% 25%

16%

How important is it that a prospective employer...Factors considered Vital.





My personal skills

My university


My class of degree

My work experience

1%

1%

5%

11%

12%

18%

23%

29%

0%

1%

5%

17%

15%

17%

15%

29%

1%

2%

7%

16%

17%

16%

17%

24%

When it comes to applying for a graduate job, which TWO of the following factors do you think will be most important in getting you hired? (Please tick TWO only)

International Student An EU national (i.e non UK) UK national

38%

23%19% 16%

3%

42%

18% 17% 19%

4%

41%

21% 17% 17%

4%





8%

19%

43%

25%

5%

13%

35% 34%

15%

3%

14%

30%

40%

14%

2%



Less than £15,000

£16,000 to £20,000

£21,000 to £25,000

£26,000 to £30,000

£31,000 to £40,000

£41,000 to £50,000

More than £50,000

13%

37%

31%

12%

5%

2%0%

9%

41%

26%

14%

5%

1%4%

15%

28%26%

13% 13%

1%4%



For more information

[email protected]

[email protected]

First year attitudes to work survey 2014

Education

levelscottish

environmental

charity fundraising

recognised

support local

happy fairly

uk specialist

internet job