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High School Grads: Strong Work Ethic

The majority of high school seniors intend to work this summer, while in college 81% of students will attend in-state schools and one-in-five expect to live at home, say the latest findings of Monster’s annual, nationwide survey of high school seniors. Of the nearly 3,400 college-bound students polled, 86% plan to work this summer; 85% of which are doing to earn money. More than two-thirds intend to work while in school; 86% expect the job will be part-time and 40% will begin their search before arriving on campus. In addition, 87% anticipate having at least one internship during their college career, and only 27% consider pay a very important factor when choosing an opportunity. “Millenials are a career-driven, focused generation that believes gaining relevant work experience is a critical step in achieving future goals,” says J.R. Cifani, vice president and general manager of Making It Count, an educational service provider for students and parents and a business unit of Monster Worldwide, Inc. “However, we encourage students to think about their collegiate experience as a job itself – it is an opportunity to learn about managing time and finances, work alone and on a team, and balance social activities with classroom and other responsibilities. Regardless of major choice or post-graduate direction, students will be able to apply these skills anywhere,” Cifani adds. The report further indicates that students will hold a myriad of jobs this summer to not only save money, but gain valuable work experience regardless of whether there is direct correlation to a chosen career path or major. Regarding post-collegiate expectations, when high school graduates envision their first job after college, 59% of those polled would consider an opportunity that requires relocation. More than 70% believe that growth opportunities, job fulfillment and professional development are critical factors, while only 62% think base salary is important. “High school seniors’ attitudes toward salary mirror those reported by college students and recent graduates. According to MonsterTRAK’s 2008 Entry-level Job Outlook survey, they also base pay below several non-monetary benefits, notes Cifani.