What do the brightest graduates want?

What do the brightest graduates want? Research Report 0 In partnership with Universum A look at what the brightest graduates look for in their career and future employers

Contents Overview of... About the Research... Executive Summary... What do the brightest graduates want? Top Sector Preferences... Career Goals... - Remuneration & Advancement...- Length of Service... Employer Reputation & Image...0 Employer Culture & People... Job Characteristics... Summary... s Top Employer Rankings... Top Employer Rankings by Degree...- UK Limited 0. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, UK Limited., Fifth Floor, Goldsmiths House, - Regent Street, London, WB HZ 00 0 hello@brightnetwork.co.uk @brightnetwork www.brightnetwork.co.uk

Overview of About the Research was established in 00 with a simple mission; to create an innovative platform to connect the brightest graduates from all backgrounds with world-leading employers and inspirational careers advice. With a focus on quality, our network has grown to over 0,000 members all of whom are graduates of Times Top 0 or Russell Group Universities, or have at least AAB at A level or equivalent. Our commitment is to help leading employers reach and recruit this high-calibre talent more effectively than ever before. Having helped our partner firms find more than,000 of their graduate hires over the six years since we launched, we know this approach works. This research, conducted in 0, examines what the brightest male and female graduates want from their career. It takes a look at their own career goals and the attributes they seek out in a potential employer. What do the brightest graduates want? is the result of an online survey conducted in 0, in partnership with Universum, a recognised world-leader in employer branding with over years of experience. The research takes a look at two target groups of graduates. Firstly, members, broken down by gender and secondly, studying across UK universities. The survey asked recipients questions in regard to their career goals and what attributes they value in a potential future employer. Our NETWORK in numbers: Our RESEARCH in numbers: Top 0 Universities University of Oxford % Durham University % University of Warwick % University of Cambridge % LSE % UCL % University of Birmingham % King s College London % Imperial College London % University of Nottingham % 0,000+ at A level Average Member % Female % BME % Oxbridge % State School % STEM Target Group :, Total respondents % Male % Female University of Oxford University of Cambridge Durham University University of Manchester LSE University of Bristol University of Exeter University College London Kings College London University of Birmingham University of Warwick respondents, by university % % % % % % % % % % % Target Group :, Total respondents % Male % Female

Executive Summary Top Sector Preferences What do the brightest graduates want? is the only research that focuses on the expectations and desires of graduates studying at Times Top 0 and Russell Group Universities and breaks down their responses by gender. Banking, Consulting and Law are the top sectors of choice amongst members. members are looking for a career that is competitively and/or intellectually challenging. A career that offers a work/life balance matters to all graduates, but women prioritise this more highly than men. % % Banking % % Consulting Top Sectors. Banking. Consulting. Law Becoming a technical/functional expert or being autonomous/independent are the least important career goals amongst members. members prioritise high future earnings as one of the key drivers they seek in a graduate job. Women also value a clear path for advancement whilst men want a competitive base salary. Overtime/pay are less of a concern for members than for. members expect a starting salary of,. This is % higher than that expected by, where their expectation is,. women however expect a starting salary of,, % less than men who expect a starting salary of,. members seek out employers that are innovative, prestigious, demonstrate market success and have inspiring management. focus more on attractive products/services and ethical standards. All graduates prioritise professional training and development opportunities in a future employer.,,,, McKinsey & Company and are amongst the top ten firms members would ideally like to work for., EY, the Civil Service, Oxfam and Unilever are amongst the top ten firms women would most wish to work for.,,, McKinsey & Company,, Barclays, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank all make the top ten list of employers men would most like to work for. members studying Law, exclusively prioritise leading Commercial Law firms as their ideal employers including Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Slaughter and May, Linklaters and Freshfields. In contrast,,, and the Civil Service are amongst the ideal employers for those studying law. % Law 0% % 0% Public Sector & Government Agencies % % Energy, Engineering & Manufacturing % % IT, Software & Technology 0% % Audit & Accounting % % Media & Advertising % % NGOs & Non-Profit % % FMCG & Retail. Media & Advertising. Public Sector & Govt. Agencies. Consulting Male. Banking. Consulting. Law &. Media & Advertising/ Public Sector/Govt. Agencies Female. Law. Consulting. Banking. Media & Advertising. Public Sector/Govt. Agencies

Career Goals: Challenge Career Goals: Leadership The brightest graduates look to be competitively and/or intellectually challenged Qs. Which career goals are most important to you: To be competitively or intellectually challenged The brightest graduates want to be a leader or manager of people Qs. Which career goals are most important to you: To be a leader or manager of people % 0% % % % % % % With a difference of %, high-achieving members value being competitively challenged more than members show a much greater drive to lead and manage than, with % more likely to set this as one of their career goals The difference between Bright Network women and men is marked, with men twice as likely to set being a leader and manager of people as one of their career goals

0 Career Goals: Innovation Career Goals: International Graduates look for a role that will be creative/ innovative or entrepreneurial Qs. Which career goals are most important to you: To be entrepreneurial or creative/innovative The brightest graduates value the potential of an international career Qs. Which career goals are most important to you: To have an international career % % % % % % % 0% All graduates are looking for a role that has the potential to be innovative and creative, but men are % more likely to prioritise this as a career goal than women members are % more likely to look for a career that has the potential to be international

Career Goals: Attitude to Risk Career Goals: Balance Graduates have different attitudes to stability and security when it comes to assessing their career goals Qs. Which career goals are most important to you: To be secure or stable in my job High-achieving male graduates are less concerned with striking a work/life balance than high-achieving women Qs. Which career goals are most important to you: To have a work/life balance % % % % % % % % are % more concerned with finding a job that will give them stability, than members women are more risk averse than their male peers and are 0% more likely to value security in a job after graduation All students recognise the importance of a career that offers a work/life balance. women value this % more highly as one of their career goals, compared with men

Career Goals: Social Responsibility Career Goals: Summary The brightest female graduates are more focused on being dedicated to a cause or to feel that they are serving a greater good Qs. Which career goals are most important to you: To be dedicated to a cause or to feel that I am serving a greater good % % The top nine career goals for each target group, listed in order of importance To be competitively or intellectually challenged To have a work/life balance To be secure or stable in my job To have an international career To be dedicated to a cause or to feel that I am serving a greater good To be a leader or manager of people To be entrepreneurial or creative/innovative To be a technical or functional expert To be autonomous or independent To have a work/life balance To be secure or stable in my job To be competitively or intellectually challenged To be dedicated to a cause or to feel that I am serving a greater good To have an international career To be entrepreneurial or creative/innovative To be a leader or manager of people To be autonomous or independent To be a technical or functional expert % % While the brightest graduates are, on the whole, less concerned with a career that focuses on serving a greater good, women are % more likely than their male counterparts to value this as one of their career goals Men To be competitively or intellectually challenged To have a work/life balance To be a leader or manager of people To have an international career To be entrepreneurial or creative/innovative To be secure or stable in my job To be dedicated to a cause or to feel that I am serving a greater good To be a technical or functional expert To be autonomous or independent Joint Women To be competitively or intellectually challenged To have a work/life balance To be secure or stable in my job To have an international career To be dedicated to a cause or to feel that I am serving a greater good To be entrepreneurial or creative/innovative To be a leader or manager of people To be autonomous or independent To be a technical or functional expert

Remuneration & Advancement What matters to graduates the most? Top priorities amongst the following groups... % % % 0% High future earnings Clear path for advancement High future earning potential % 0% Overtime Pay / Compensation Competitive Base Salary Clear path for advancement Competitive base salary Good reference for future career and High future earnings Leadership opportunities % % Performance Related Bonus % % Competitive Benefits members value a competitive base salary, % more than In contrast, overtime pay/compensation is % more important to than it is to members % % Rapid Promotion Performance related bonuses matter % more to high-achieving members than Men High future earnings Competitive base salary Clear path for advancement Women Clear path for advancement. High future earnings. Good reference for future career women prioritise a clear path for advancement in their career whereas men seek out competitive base salaries

Remuneration & Advancement Length of Service Expected annual starting salaries, The length of time graduates expect to stay with their first employer Expectation by male & female members...,,, % % One year or less % 0% Two years % % Three years year or less years % % 0% % % % years % Four years % Five years or more years % 0% members expect a starting salary that is % higher than men expect a starting salary that is % higher than that expected by Bright Network women A large proportion of graduates expect to stay with their chosen graduate employer for a long period of time, with members % more likely to stay for over four years compared with % % years or more 0% %

0 Employer Reputation & Image Employer Culture & People Top attributes graduates value in a future employer Innovation Prestige Market Success Inspiring Management Attractive/exciting products & services Men Innovation Attractive/exciting products & services Ethical standards Inspiring Management Prestige Women Top qualities graduates look for in an employer s culture and its people Creative & dynamic work environment Leaders who will support my development Recognising performance (meritocracy) Friendly work environment Respect for its people Creative & dynamic work environment Leaders who will support my development Friendly work environment Respect for its people Recognising performance (meritocracy) Prestige Market Success Innovation Inspiring Management Financial Strength Innovation Prestige Inspiring Management Market Success Attractive/exciting products & services men prioritise Market Success whereas women focus on Innovation and Inspiring Management Men Recognising performance (meritocracy) Creative & dynamic working environment Leaders who will support my development Friendly work environment Interaction with international clients and colleagues Women Creative and dynamic working environment Leaders who will support my development Friendly work environment Recognising performance (meritocracy) Respect for its people

Job Characteristics Summary Top characteristics students look for in a graduate job A 0 degree summary that analyses the results of the previous four sections Remuneration & Advancement Opportunities; Employer Reputation & Image; Employer Culture & People and Job Characteristics to show the main influences that drive employer attractiveness. Professional training & development Challenging work Opportunities for international travel / relocation Men Professional training & development Opportunities for international travel / relocation Secure employment Women 0 Professional training & development High future earnings Creative and dynamic work environment Challenging work Leaders who will support my development Friendly work environment Opportunities for international travel/relocation Clear path for advancement Competitive base salary Prestige 0 Professional training & development Creative and dynamic work environment Friendly work environment Leaders who will support my development High future earnings Opportunities for international travel/relocation Secure employment Clear path for advancement Challenging work Respect for its people Professional training & development Challenging work Opportunities for international travel/relocation High level of responsibility Client interaction Professional training & development Challenging work Opportunities for international travel/relocation Secure employment Variety of assignments Men 0 High future earnings Professional training & development Prestige Competitive base salary Challenging work Creative and dynamic work environment Recognising performance (meritocracy) Clear path for advancement Leaders who will support my development Market success Women 0 Professional training & development Creative and dynamic work environment Friendly work environment Challenging work Opportunities for international travel/relocation Leaders who will support my development High future earnings Clear path for advancement Secure employment Variety of assignments

s Top Employer Rankings Top Employer Rankings by Degree Considered employers members were presented with a list of employers and asked to select which they would consider working for Ideal employers members were then asked to choose five employers for which they would most want to work for Law Considered employers Ideal employers 0 0 HSBC Barclays EY Deutsche Bank KPMG Bank of England 0 0 EY John Lewis L Oréal Group HSBC Channel Unilever KPMG Deutsche Bank Barclays 0 0 HSBC 0 Bank of America Merrill Lynch Credit Suisse EY KPMG 0 Civil Service McKinsey & Company 0 Civil Service Oxfam EY Channel Unilever 0 McKinsey & Company Barclays Bank of America Merrill Lynch Deutsche Bank 0 Allen & Overy Slaughter and May Clifford Chance Norton Rose Fulbright Hogan Lovells Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Linklaters DLA Piper Baker & McKenzie Herbert Smith Freehills Simmons & Simmons Pinsent Masons Ashurst Berwin Leighton Paisner 0 0 Allen & Overy Slaughter and May Clifford Chance Linklaters Simmons & Simmons Baker & McKenzie Civil Service Hogan Lovells Channel 0 Clifford Chance Allen & Overy Slaughter and May Linklaters Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Baker & McKenzie DLA Piper Hogan Lovells Norton Rose Fulbright Herbert Smith Freehills 0 Allen & Overy Slaughter and May Clifford Chance Civil Service Linklaters Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Baker & McKenzie McKinsey & Company Eversheds International Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Top Employer Rankings by Degree Economics, Business, Finance & Commerce Engineering, IT & Technology Considered employers Ideal employers Considered employers Ideal employers HSBC Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce Barclays Barclays Jaguar Land Rover Rolls-Royce HSBC Rolls-Royce BP Coca-Cola BP Jaguar Land Rover Jaguar Land Rover Jaguar Land Rover Barclays L Oréal Group IBM BMW Group Shell BAE Systems Sony Shell Deutsche Bank British Airways The Virgin Group BMW Group Shell BMW Group Credit Suisse L Oréal Group HSBC Coca-Cola British Airways Atkins BP 0 Bank of England 0 0 McKinsey & Company 0 0 Electric 0 BAE Systems 0 Barclays 0 IBM UBS The Virgin Group Sony IBM EY John Lewis BP KPMG Facebook Siemens BMW Group Facebook Facebook Bank of America Merrill Lynch Shell

Top Employer Rankings by Degree Humanities, Arts & Education-focused studies Biological, Natural Sciences, Health & Medicine Considered employers Ideal employers Considered employers Ideal employers NHS NHS Channel Civil Service Channel GSK Civil Service NHS Channel ITV Civil Service GSK Environment Agency Oxfam Channel ITV Bupa EY Oxfam Oxfam EY Environment Agency Bupa John Lewis British Council British Council GSK Pfizer John Lewis British Council McKinsey & Company Teach First KPMG Boots EY Armed Forces (navy / air / army) Oxfam Civil Service Barclays Channel AstraZeneca 0 0 Facebook 0 0 NHS 0 HSBC 0 L Oréal Group 0 0 ITV Sky British Airways GSK British Airways NHS Unilever Facebook Teach First Coca-Cola NHS Accenture Armed Forces (navy / air / army) Oxfam

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