Students want “to be challenged on a day-to-day basis” in their first graduate job. This is a key priority as is wanting “genuine responsibility from day one,” according to the UK Graduate Careers Survey 2008.

Other priorities include working towards a professional qualification, early contact with clients or customers, the opportunity for rapid promotion and using the degree subject studied. The latter aspiration is unlikely to be fulfilled, however, given that about three-quarters of graduate jobs in the UK are for applicants from any degree discipline.

Work-life balance is also important, with 33 per cent of students surveyed saying that they do not want to work in the evenings or at weekends. About 30 per cent said that they were keen to “give back something” to the community.

Jobseekers were less enthusiastic about having responsibility for managing other people or the chance to work flexible hours or from home.

Students were divided over whether it was better to join a rotational graduate training/induction programme or to begin work in a specific part of an organisation. A third said that doing a series of training placements was very important to them, whereas a fifth preferred to start in a specific role straight away. Just under 30 per cent hoped that their first job would bring them into direct contact with senior managers and executives. The students expected an average starting salary this year of £22,700, a rise of 4.6 per cent on last year’s expected average of £21,700. One in 12 job hunters believed they would earn £15,000 or less. However, almost 30 per cent thought they would start on at least £25,000 and six per cent hoped to earn at least £35,000.

Many final-year students also hoped to receive bonuses averaging £3,000 upon starting work. Students at the London School of Economics expected the highest payments at an average of £4,100. Interestingly, LSE students also expected a starting salary of £30,400. Cambridge final-year students by comparison were prepared for a more modest £25,100.

The survey indicated that the overriding priority for students when deciding what job to apply for was the nature of the work they would be doing. Quality training and development was an essential factor for more than half and 50 per cent said that the location of the job was a key factor.

Two fifths cited the starting salary as a main consideration. A company’s overall reputation was very important for 45 per cent. Despite enthusiasm for posts that allow jobseekers to give back something to the community, fewer than a quarter considered an employer’s corporate social responsibility record very important. A third were more concerned about an employer’s commercial success and business performance.

Times Recommends

• Inspirational leadership
• How to get a new job
• The reluctant CEO