More graduates seek ethical companies_2

The vast majority of final year undergraduates, 72%, feel corporate responsibility and the ethical record of a prospective employer are "extremely important" when looking for a job, according to Grad
The vast majority of final year undergraduates, 72%, feel corporate responsibility and the ethical record of a prospective employer are "extremely important" when looking for a job, according to Grad Facts 2006, a survey published by The Guardian.

This compares with 55% in 2002. The online survey of 2,000 final year students found 54% believe it is important to be passionate about the job or industry they are planning to work in.

Andre McGarrigle, head of planning and research at Guardian Newspapers, said: "There was a clear pattern when we asked about specific employers. Essentially, the more ethical an employer was perceived to be, the more attractive they were as an employer, which highlights the importance of corporate social responsibility in the eyes of graduates."

For 60% of ethnic minority graduates, equality of opportunity was the most important factor when choosing a prospective employer. More than half, 57%, feel it is harder for them to get ahead in the workplace. This is in contrast to non-ethnic minority graduates, with only 15% agreeing it was harder for ethnic groups to get ahead.

At the time of the survey, April/May, final year undergraduates had made an average of three applications, with 15% having had interviews and 10% with job offers. However, those from Russell Group universities, a group of 19 institutions regarded as having established excellence in research, fared better. About 22% of them had had interviews, and 11% had accepted job offers.

Those looking to work in the finance sector started their job search earlier. Those interested in working for charities left it later.

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