Affiliation:
1. James Madison University, USA
2. Lees-McRae College, USA
Abstract
Job preferences of college graduates before entering their professional fields is an area that should receive attention, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Job choice decisions literature suggests that demographic characteristics can impact individual's employment preferences, but little is known about what the current generation of college students (i.e., Generation Z) seek in a job. This study focuses on what job attributes Gen Z college students sought in employment during the pandemic. Additionally, the study explores job attributes minoritized Gen Z college students seek or avoid in employment. The findings of an online survey among 393 graduating college students suggest race and gender affect job preferences. The factors coworker/policy, status/advancement, diversity/work itself, and schedule/relocation are what college graduates seek. Moreover, the qualitative data analysis revealed four themes regarding qualities minoritized graduates seek and two themes regarding deal breakers for minoritized graduates.
Reference41 articles.
1. Welcome to the real world: Gender and ethnic comparisons in sources of job satisfaction and dissatisfaction expected by students and experienced by recent graduates.;M. J.Carvajal;International Review of Modern Sociology,2002
2. Workforce Diversity and Job Satisfaction of the Majority and the Minority
3. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. (2018). 2018 Deloitte millennial survey: Millennials disappointed in business, unprepared for industry 4.0. Author.
4. Defining generations: Where millennials end and generation Z begins.;M.Dimock;Pew Research Center,2019