Dual surveys of nearly 3,000 rising and recent college graduates conducted by ZipRecruiter found that graduates’ expectations often collide with reality just a few months after getting handed their diplomas.
Graduates found the job search took longer than they expected. Although 82% of rising grads said they expected to begin working within three months of graduation, only 77% of recent grads were able to accomplish that. Business and finance-related majors were most likely to have found a job either before or within three months of graduation.
Salaries didn’t meet expectations for many, with 42% of recent grads reporting they did not secure the pay they wanted. Rising graduates said they expect to make six figures ($101,500 on average), but the survey found the average starting salary for recent grads was $68,400. Fine Arts, Performing Arts, and/or Design majors reported making the least income in their first jobs with an average salary of just $48,000.
Ninety percent of rising graduates said it was important to them to secure jobs with flexibility, but recent grads reported such jobs were hard to come by, with only 29% reporting they had found jobs with flexible schedules and work arrangements.
“Navigating the transition from campus to career can be a challenge for new grads, especially given the unpredictable market this class is stepping into,” said Ian Siegel, ZipRecruiter co-founder and CEO.
“The grads who will come out ahead are those who start their search early, stay open to different paths, and keep at it, even if things don’t go exactly as planned,” he said.
Other report highlights include:
- Nursing and allied health topped the charts as the most useful majors based on an in-depth analysis of three stages of the college experience – major selection, job search, and job outcomes.
- Male grads’ salaries are outpacing their female counterparts, with men earning $72,700 per year and women earning $67,500 right out of the gate, on average.
- Internships aren’t converting into full-time employment like they once did, with only 9.7% of recent grads saying an internship or apprenticeship helped them land a job – compared to nearly 40% of rising grads who believe it will be their ticket to full-time work.
- AI is a looming concern for grads, with 47% of new grads and 46% of rising grads believing their field has or will have fewer jobs due to AI.
- Industries hiring the most entry-level roles for recent grads include nursing, special education, and electronics engineering.
Go here to read “The Graduate Divide: Expectations vs. Reality for the Class of 2025,” published April 23 by ZipRecruiter, a leading online employment marketplace.
