Barnes & Noble Education Survey Reveals College Students Feel Prepared for Careers, But Uncertain About Job Prospects
July 07 2020 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
Most (61%) students are confident they will find a job in
their field, though 66% concerned about finding one that meets
salary needs
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED), a leading
solutions provider for the education industry, today announced
findings that show college students and recent graduates are fairly
optimistic about their career readiness despite the impact of
COVID-19 on their education, though salary and college debt
concerns remain. Conducted by Barnes & Noble College Insights℠,
the survey looked at the perspectives of college students across
the U.S. as they navigate the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic
and volatility in the job market. Key findings include:
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Expected length of post-graduation job
search
- Almost half of students (48%) are optimistic about finding a
job within 2-6 months after graduating. Roughly equal amounts
believe job searches will be shorter or longer than that – 15%
expect to find a job within one month, while 14% expect it to take
six months or more.
- Seeking employment is still the most common next step for
students completing undergraduate programs. Within six months of
graduation, 62% of students expect to work at a full-time job, 27%
a part-time job, and 22% a full-time internship.
- Recent graduates are likely to keep to their expected career
paths. More than half (56%) are confident they will be able to find
a job in the field they want, compared to 24% who are
uncertain.
This confidence may be attributable to how well students feel
their college courses have prepared them for the future. Despite a
semester interrupted by the pandemic, 74% of students feel their
courses are or have prepared them well for their respective
industry, and 73% say the same for the job or role they want. And
while almost half (46%) of students expect the current situation
will impact their ability to find a job in the months following
graduation, only 13% say they plan to make adjustments to their
career path, suggesting confidence in their current skills
sets.
“Students are very aware of the connection between their
coursework and career prospects. They appreciate classes that are
specific and specialized to their field or industry, often viewing
these as the most ‘useful’ portion of their studies,” said Lisa
Malat, President of Barnes & Noble College. “At a time when
colleges and universities are focused on demonstrating value,
ensuring students understand how their coursework is directly
preparing them for their desired career can make a major
difference.”
While students seem to feel an overall sense of preparedness,
the pandemic has not come without concerns. More than half of
students say the transition to online learning (53%) and completely
virtual interactions (52%) has negatively impacted their academic
confidence. Students report struggling to study from home, with 56%
saying they are less motivated to get their work done, and 40%
saying they now spend more time on homework. In fact, 62% of
students say they would be willing to give up TikTok for the
ability to cut homework or study time in half, followed by
Instagram (57%) and Netflix (53%). While most students (61%) are
turning to their professors for homework help, they are also
looking at other resources for support. More than half (57%) are
turning to digital tools and resources such as bartleby, while 54%
are turning to classmates for help.
“Even as campuses move to reopen, it’s clear we’re preparing for
a fall unlike the ones we’ve seen before. With social distancing
requirements limiting in-person access to professors and other
campus resources, we see more and more students turning to bartleby
and other digital resources for homework and writing help. These
apps are not limited by office hours or physical locations,
allowing students to navigate around shifting lectures and work
schedules,” said Ms. Malat.
With the majority (74%) of students working either part-time or
full-time while they are enrolled, they also have concerns outside
of lecture and study time. Even as campuses make plans to reopen,
many of these students are facing furloughs, lost wages, or even
unemployment. Four in ten (44%) students say COVID-19 has impacted
their ability to pay for college. This percentage is even higher
for first-generation students, of which more than half (56%) are
impacted. Financial security is also a big factor when weighing
career prospects, as the top concern for more than half of students
(66%) is being able to find a job that meets their salary needs.
Repaying the college expenses needed to get them ready for their
field is likely a major factor in this salary concern, as 58% say
they are worried about being able to pay off their college
debt.
For more information about Barnes & Noble Education, visit
www.bned.com.
Survey Methodology
Barnes & Noble College Insights℠ conducted an online
quantitative survey of 1,330 college students across the U.S. in
May to better understand how COVID-19 has impacted their education
and career plans, and overall sense of career readiness.
About Barnes & Noble Education
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED) is a
leading solutions provider for the education industry, driving
affordability, access and achievement at hundreds of academic
institutions nationwide and ensuring millions of students are
equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Through its
family of brands, BNED offers campus retail services and academic
solutions, a digital direct-to-student learning ecosystem,
wholesale capabilities and more. BNED is a company serving all who
work to elevate their lives through education, supporting students,
faculty and institutions as they make tomorrow a better, more
inclusive and smarter world. For more information, visit
www.bned.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200707005237/en/
Carolyn J. Brown Senior Vice President Corporate Communications
and Public Affairs cbrown@bned.com 908-991-2967
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