4 key things the class of 2023 wants from employers

With the constant talk of rising inflation, economic uncertainty and the difficulties of remote working, on face value it appears that the class of 2023 are entering the workforce at a less than opportune time.

However, some deeper digging shows that that is actually not the case. Despite those factors, remaining a concern, the class of 2023 is entering a workforce that is the most buoyant it has been for 70 years, and this cohort looks set to benefit from increased opportunities.

According to a recent report from the Economic Policy Institute, this year’s graduating class are entering employment at a more positive time than their predecessors with lower unemployment rates and high opportunities for employment, receiving more job offers than any other graduating class.

Salaries for graduates increased by 9% during the pandemic which has resulted in the majority of workers aged under 25 are now only working one full time job. On paper, the prognosis for this year’s graduates is positive, but what are they really looking for from the world of work?

1.  They want progression, and fast

A recent report from LaSalle Network shows that 54% of graduates expect to get their first promotion within their first 12 months at a company, and if it doesn’t come, well then––they’re willing to jump ship in order to find opportunity elsewhere.

2.  They want hybrid working, with true flexibility

For 87% of the class of 2023, hybrid working with a mix between onsite and remote working is the preference. However, it’s worth noting that within that model they want the flexibility to set their own schedule and for remote working to mean remote working.

Source: Shutterstock

3.  They want employment that supports their lifestyle

Free coffee and an onsite gym might be nice to have, they are no longer considered strong enough perks to sway a member of the class of 2023 into accepting an offer. These grads want to work for a company that encourages work life balance and rewards hard work with unlimited paid time off and flexible working hours.

4.  They want community

Research has long shown that when employees feel valued they do their best work, but for the class of 2023 it goes beyond that. In addition to good financial compensation, they want to work for a company that aligns with their personal beliefs, and which offers meaningful support to staff. In fact, for 40% of them, access to mental health support can be the deciding factor in whether to accept a role.

For employers who want to retain graduate talent, it’s important that paths to progression are made clear, that upskilling and mentorship opportunities are highlighted and that the company culture is at the forefront of all activity.

And if you are looking for a job, the Study International Job Board is full of exciting roles from leading companies who are all committed to nurturing talent. Three such roles are highlighted below.

Finance Graduate Scheme, Discovery Graduates, England

The Role: One of the UK’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of PVC windows, doors, and fascia systems seeks a highly competent and motivated Finance Graduate to be part of a high-performance team joining the company’s two-year Graduate Programme.

The Responsibilities: You will be exposed to and will participate fully in a broad range of activities to provide real business experience, quantifiable business benefits and the opportunity for a challenging and rewarding career.

The Requirements: You should have achieved a 2:2 degree (or higher) ideally, but not limited to, in an accounting or a finance-related discipline, be keen to study and become a member for ACCA/CIMA qualifications, and be highly proficient in using Office 365 particularly Excel.

Apply for the Finance Graduate role or browse all available opportunities at Discovery Graduates.

Computer Vision Intern, Samsung, California

The Role: As a Computer Vision Intern at Samsung’s Research America programme you will participate in  current research on optical based image transformation including depth based reprojection.

The Responsibilities: You will be working with particular focus on the interoperability of traditional computer vision techniques and machine learning techniques. Working with existing engineers to understand the current system and experiment with alternative approaches to the current solution.

The Requirements: You will have a solid foundation in computer graphics; fully understanding of computer graphics rendering pipeline, shaders, and textures. Exposure to CNN and DNN toolsets, a solid foundation in software development and related tools and proficiency in C, C++ programming language and at least one another prototyping language such as MATLAB or Python.

Apply for the Computer Vision Intern role or browse all available opportunities at the Samsung Research America Programme.

Operations Engineer, Duolingo, Pittsburgh

The Role: As Operations Engineer with Duolingo you will work with the Cloud Operations team to help ensure the platform is always available for learners.

The Responsibilities: You will be responsible for designing and implementing tools that help engineering teams focus on shipping features, while working to build infrastructure that is cost-efficient, secure and reliable.

The Requirements: You will have a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, demonstrated expertise in problem solving and technical innovation and technical experience in distributed systems, including: databases, caching, inter-service communication, networking, and cloud services.

Apply for the Operations Engineer role or browse all available opportunities at Duolingo.

Explore the Study International Job Board to find your perfect fit