The AAGE Candidate Survey 2009Survey Report

Produced by High Fliers Research

Photographs by Rex Features, iStockPhoto, Donald Tong

All information contained in this report is believed to be correct and unbiased, but the publisher does not accept responsibility for any loss arising from decisions made upon this information.

© High Fliers Research Limited and the Australian Association of Graduate Employers 2008. 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.

Survey produced for the AAGE by:

High Fliers Research LtdKing’s Gate, 1 Bravingtons Walk, London, N1 9AE, UKT: +44 20 7428 9000F: +44 20 7428 9111E: enquiries@highfliers.co.uk

Australian Association of Graduate Employers Ltd.PO Box 1148, Mitcham North, Victoria, 3132, Australia T: +61 3 9893 0188F: +61 3 9893 0188E: info@aage.com.auW: www.aage.com.au

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ExecutiveSummary 5

1. Introduction 7

ResearchingtheCandidateMarket

SurveyMethodology

ParticipatingEmployers

2. Demographics 9

DemographicsandTypeofEmployment

ResidencyStatus

3. TimeatUniversity 17

ChoiceofUniversity

ActivitiesandDegreesUndertakenatUniversity

Pre-graduateSchemes

WorkExperience

4. ApplicationsandJobHunting 29

Applications

RecruitmentPromotionsandApplicationDecisions

OffersandJoiningDecisions

RecruitmentProcessTimeline

5. ViewsonEmployers 45

EmployersofChoiceandProfileonCampus

6. TheFuture 51

LengthofTimewithEmployer

PlanstoWorkOverseas

Contents

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The AAGE Candidate Survey 2009

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About the AAGETheAustralianAssociation of Graduate Employers (AAGE) is the peak industry bodyrepresentingorganisationsthatrecruitanddevelopAustraliangraduates. Ourcurrentmembershiplistcomprisesover340organisations,includingavarietyoflargeandsmallemployersacrossawiderangeofindustriesinboththeprivateandpublicsectors.

TheAAGEisanot-for-profitbodythathasbeeninexistencesince1988.Itsactivitiesareentirelysupportedbymembers,bywayofsubscriptions,eventsandservicesprovidedtothegraduaterecruitmentindustry.

The Association is led by a dedicated committee of volunteers who donate theirspare time to help manage and sustain our member offering. All our committeevolunteershave‘dayjobs’asgraduaterecruitmentleadersatoneoftheAAGE’smemberorganisations. TheAAGE is therefore the only representative body in theAustraliangraduaterecruitmentmarketthat isrunbyemployersforemployers.WebelievethatthisstructuregivestheAAGEauniqueabilitytoprovideourmemberswithvaluableandrelevantservices.

The AAGE provides a range of benefits to its members:

Relationship buildingThe AAGE provides members with regular opportunities to meet with a range of people from the graduate recruitment industry, including employers, university careers advisers and service providers.

InformationThe AAGE provides its members with both formal and informal opportunities to learn about the industry, share information and develop their skills.

Advocacy and supportAs a representative body, the AAGE communicates the views of its members to other stakeholders in the graduate recruitment market. The AAGE also provides its members with support and advice on industry ‘best practice’.

The AAGE Candidate Survey 2009

Executive Summary

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About the surveyThe AAGE Candidate Survey 2009 is based on research conducted for the AAGE by High Fliers Research with 2,582 new or future employees from 127 organisations between April to September 2008. The survey is produced to provide AAGE employers with the very latest information on:

Candidate applicationsJob hunting techniquesFactors which influence application and offer acceptance decisionsFuture plans of candidates

DemographicsThe survey provides a range of data about candidate profiles and job destinations:

Over half of the candidates in this year’s survey were aged between 22 and 24 years of age at the time of the survey.Accountancy is the most popular choice for both men and women. IT and finance are the next most popular for men while it is legal work and policy development for women.91 per cent of candidates are Australian or New Zealand citizens.Two-thirds of candidates were due to complete their degree in July 2008 or later.

Time at universityThe survey provides a range of data about candidate experiences while at university:

68 per cent of candidates said the reputation of the university was an important factor in influencing their decision on which institution to join.Over two-fifths had received a scholarship, academic prize or received financial support from an employer.A third of survey participants had completed work experience that will be directly relevant to their new employer.

Applications and job huntingThe survey shows details of the number of applications made and offers received by candidates:

The median number of applications made by candidates was five.Employers’ own websites were seen as ‘very useful’ by 60 per cent of candidates when searching for a job.The training and development provided by an organisation was considered ‘very important’ by 74 per cent of candidates when deciding which job offer to accept.

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Employers of choiceThe survey shows that while many candidates feel their future employer has the best opportunities on offer, there are a proportion of participants who suggest alternative companies:

The aspirational employer of choice is Macquarie Group.There were 21 different employers of choice – voted on by sector – including PricewaterhouseCoopers in the accountancy sector and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Australian government.Macquarie Group had the highest profile at eight universities within Australia.

The futureThe survey shows that many candidates are looking for a long term career with their first employer:

Over half of candidates expect to stay with their first employer for more than five years.Promotion or career advancement, content of work, remuneration offered and the work-life balance were the top factors which would lead a candidate to stay longer with an employer.42 per cent of candidates think it is most likely they will work overseas after 2011.

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The AAGE Candidate Survey 2009

The AAGE Candidate Survey 2009

Chapter 1

Introduction

ResearchingthecandidatemarketWelcome to the AAGE Candidate Survey 2009, the definitive study of new and future employees at some of the leading organisations in Australia and New Zealand. The survey is unique as all candidates have taken part in the graduate recruitment process and all have received at least one job offer from the group of participating employers.

Many organisations are interested in gathering honest and open feedback from graduates about their experiences during the recruitment process. The AAGE Candidate Survey was created to address this issue by gathering impartial and anonymous feedback from candidates through the use of an independent survey. The AAGE Candidate Survey helps organisations to understand the key motivators and drivers of their new graduates.

SurveymethodologyParticipating employers sent an online survey to each of their graduates who had accepted an offer to join the company as part of the 2009 intake. These candidates were then able to access the online survey which contained both closed and open ended questions. The questionnaire was online from April to September 2008 and 2,582 candidates responded during that time.

It was an important part of the methodology that only the participating employers knew who the online questionnaire had been sent to, as no contact details were gathered in the questionnaire in order to maintain candidates’ anonymity.

Questions presented to candidates had either single or multiple responses required. When results are analysed and presented in The AAGE Candidate Survey 2009, multiple response questions typically lead to bar charts which exceed a total of 100 per cent.

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The AAGE Candidate Survey 2009Survey Report

Produced by High Fliers Research

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The AAGE Candidate Survey 2009

ParticipatingEmployersA total of 127 employers had future or current employees complete the survey, including:

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The AAGE Candidate Survey 2009

General Electric (GE)Geoscience AustraliaGHD Pty LtdGM HoldenGolder AssociatesGoogleGrant ThorntonHatch Associates Pty LtdHBOSIMC PacificJemenaJP MorganKimberly-Clark LEK ConsultingLinfoxL’OréalMacquarie GroupMars AustraliaMcGrath NicolMinter EllisonMonadelphousNational Australia BankNational FoodsNewcrest MiningNewmont AustraliaO’Connells OBM Pty LtdOneSteel LimitedOrica AustraliaOrigin EnergyPerksPitcher PartnersProcter & GambleProduction Service NetworkQantasQBE InsuranceQ-SuperQueensland Transport Queensland TreasuryRACReserve Bank of AustraliaRSL CareSA HealthSA WaterSinclair Knight MerzSt George BankStatistics New ZealandSuncorpToyota Technical CenterTransgridURSVale AustraliaVictoria Legal AidVictorian Department of TransportVictorian GovernmentVirgin BlueWalter TurnbullWater Corporation of Western AustraliaWestnet EnergyWestpac WHK HorwathWilliam BuckWorley ParsonsXstrata

ANZ BankABB AustraliaAccentureAMPAnglo Coal AustraliaAristocrat TechnologiesArupAuditor General’s Department South AustraliaAusAIDAusencoAustralia PostAustralian Bureau of StatisticsAustralian Government SolicitorAustralian National Audit OfficeAustralian Prudential Regulation AuthorityAustralian Public ServiceAustralian Tax OfficeBaker & McKenzieBankWestBDO KendallsBecaBlake DawsonBluescope SteelBP AustraliaCentrelinkCentral Northern Adelaide Health ServiceClayton UtzCommonwealth Bank of AustraliaCommonwealth TreasuryCrane GroupDeaconsDefence Materiel OrganisationDeloitteDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital EconomyDepartment of DefenceDepartment of Employment, Education and Workplace RelationsDepartment of Environment, Water, Heritage and the ArtsDepartment of Finance and DeregulationDepartment of Foreign Affairs and TradeDepartment of HealthDepartment of Human ServicesDepartment of Immigration and CitizenshipDept. of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local GovernmentDepartment of JusticeDepartment of Main Roads QueenslandDepartment of Primary IndustriesDepartment of Prime Minister and CabinetDepartment of Sustainability and EnvironmentDepartment of Treasury and FinanceDepartment of Treasury and Finance (VIC)Department of Treasury and Finance (WA)Department of Treasury and Finance- Office of ProcurementDLA Phillips FoxElectraNetENERGEX LimitedErgon EnergyErnst & YoungEssential Services CommissionEssoETSA UtilitiesExxonMobilFordFordham Group