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Here at Career Services, we are constantly talking about our students career outcomes. Recently, the conversation has turned its focus to the values and cultural aspects of the workplace that our students are looking for. One way that we have captured the preferences of our students, is through our research study powered by Universum, the global leader in the field of employer branding and talent research. Universum conducted a study of 80,000 students and 26,000 business students, they then compiled a personalized report that compares Bentley student preferences to the overall business school sample. The 87 page report details the priorities for Bentley students when it comes to their career search. Based on this Universum Talent Research Report, we have found that for the Bentley respondents, “leaders who will support my development” is the overall most important attribute of choosing a workplace.
The research also found that our students prioritize:
- Work that has purpose
- Workplaces that create customizable experiences
- Total rewards that reflect their values
- A workplace that fosters their purposeful and focused mindset
- An emphasis on the now, but an understanding of the big picture
- Flexibility in the workplace
- Giving and receiving feedback
- Finding a stable work-life balance
- Trust-building in relationships
It also discusses:
- A dedication to cause vs. leader
- Inspiring purpose vs. leaders who support my development
- Gender differences, such as salary
- Preferences when it comes to career fairs, campus recruiting, job boards, etc.
- Preferred industries and companies
- Employer attractiveness and attributes that are determinants
- Students ability to be future-focused critical thinkers
Essentially, the comprehensive report illustrated the importance of culture and values in the workplace, as well as the fact that our students understand its importance. In the video below, Susan Brennan, Associate Vice President of University Career Services presents the highlights of the findings from Universum. This was presented at the annual Future of Work Research Colloquium held here at Bentley in November.
