New graduates are demanding more than just a paycheck.
According to a survey by EDHEC Business School, they seek meaningful work that aligns with their values. The EDHEC survey was carried out among 2,000 graduates from top French universities.
EDHEC’s research reveals that new graduates view work as more than just earning money.
They want their work to be meaningful and contribute to social change while earning a good salary.
The survey found that 31% of graduates want to impact the world positively. 38% are motivated by a company’s mission statement and sustainable commitments. For 67% of them, aligning their personal values with their employers’ mission is crucial.
What expectations do young people have of their managers?
Graduates have high expectations of their managers, too.
73% want honest and transparent managers and 67% desire autonomy. They crave stimulating and fulfilling projects and assignments.
HR departments must provide the right learning opportunities and meaningful work. If they fail, there could be trouble on the horizon.
However, the demands of young employees may change as they progress in life. Flexibility in recruitment and retention strategies is key to successful employment.
My comment: By the way, it’s not only recent graduates who want their work to be meaningful and contribute to social change while getting paid well, but I think everyone who gets up in the morning and goes to work wants to do something meaningful. Is there anyone on earth who wants to spend 8 hours a day doing something meaningless?
Photo/Illustration credit: EDHEC Business School
