The employment market for students at top-tier undergraduate and MBA programs
has passed a low point and is now on the way up, according to a study released
by WetFeet, Inc.
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FREE Compensation Market Analysis Report! Find out how much you should be paying to attract and retain the best applicants and employees, with
customized information for your industry, location, and job.
Get Your Report Now!"Even though the general job market continues to limp along, the demand
for the best and brightest students has turned the corner," says Steve
Pollock, president of WetFeet. "Students have lowered their compensation
expectations and expanded their job search activities. Meanwhile employers recognize
the need to maintain a pipeline of future leadership talent. As a result, employers
should be prepared for tougher competition on the hiring front this fall."
The firm conducted the survey in April 2003, receiving responses from more
than 2,700 undergraduate, graduate, and MBA students on issues such as salary
expectations, interview rates, job and internship offer rates and the perceived
effectiveness of campus and online recruiting efforts.
Compensation expectations fell for the third year in a row, with nearly two-thirds
of all students reporting that they had lowered their expectations this year,
according to the study. Nevertheless, students remained optimistic about the
job search with three-quarters of respondents expressing confidence that they
would find a job they want. Eighty-two percent of respondents indicated that
they expect the job market to be better in 2003-2004.
Other findings include:
- Job offers jumped 30 percent between 2002 and 2003, with undergrads receiving
an average of 1.1 offers (up from 0.8 in 2002), MBAs receiving an average
of 1.5 offers (up from 1.2), and non-MBA graduate students receiving an average
of 0.9 offers (up from 0.7).
- Competition for top candidates heated up. As of April 2003, 27 percent of
undergraduate candidates and 40 percent of MBA candidates had received multiple
job offers (up from 19 percent and 34 percent respectively in April 2002).
- Compensation expectations dropped for all categories of students. Among
undergraduates, business majors reported the biggest drop, with average salary
expectations falling to $40,700 in 2003 from $43,020 in 2002. MBA salary expectations
dropped to $80,900 in 2003 from $81,990 in 2002. Expected signing bonuses
were also lower for all categories.