Spotlight for Recruiting Professionals, February 1, 2012 

When master’s degree students participating in NACE’s 2011 Student Survey were asked to identify and rank their top five job/employer preferences, the results were remarkably similar to the preferences of bachelor’s degree graduates in 2011. (See Figure 1.) 

At the top of the list was the opportunity for personal growth and development. Instead of looking for the opportunity for quick advancement with their first employer, they wanted that employer/job to provide the chance to grow and become more attractive for future endeavors. 

Job security is the second-ranked preference among both master’s and bachelor’s job seekers, but the rating for job security is noticeably less among master’s degree students than it is for their bachelor’s degree counterparts.  

The attributes that stand out as given more weight from master’s degree recipients are high starting salary and the opportunity to improve the community through their job. This indicates that master’s degree job seekers have higher salary expectations, but, in general, are also looking to combine a well-compensated position with one that has a relatively broad impact in the community. 

 Figure 1: Top Job/Employer Preferences  

Note: For more on this topic, see “Attitudes and Experiences of Advanced Degree Students” in the February 2012 issue of the NACE Journal.