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    What Students Really Want: Real Experience, Real Relationships

    How students want to engage with employers

    In this session, we reviewed the latest results and hear directly from students around topics like: 

    • How do students prefer to engage with recruiters? 
    • What value and perceptions do students have on popular recruiting activities? 
    • What do they want most to help them prepare for their careers? 
    • What uncertainties are students facing when it comes to securing a job? 

    Data highlights from this year’s survey include: 

    • 95% of respondents rated “real, paid work experience with an organization” as the most valuable way to engage them 
    • 69% of respondents wish recruiters had begun to engage them earlier 
    • Top need for students is more experience to build their resume 

    The student panelists will share their top challenges with common recruiting activities, what they like and don’t like about campus recruiting, and what they need from career services and employers to feel prepared to enter the workforce. 

    This panel featured:


    Alexmora

     

     

    Alex Mora, UC Santa Barbara, Class of 2022
    Nyauni Crowelle

     

    Nyauni Crowelle, Valencia College, Class of 2023
    Keion

     

     

    Keion Adams, Florida State University, Class of 2023

    Watch the on-demand replay!

    Webinar Summary

    In this session, insights from current and former Micro-Interns revealed students' desires and preferences in engaging with potential employers. Early-career panelists Alex Mora, Nyauni Crowelle, and Keion Adams, provided firsthand perspectives on the importance of real work experiences, early engagement, and tailored recruitment activities that resonate with diverse student groups.

    Panelists shared that college students want: 

    • Real work experience: In the 2024-2025 Student Sentiments on Campus Recruiting Report, 95% of students surveyed rated real, paid work experience as the most valuable form of engagement. Alex's experience as a Micro-Intern serves as a great example of how real work experience gives college students a leg up: "Having a Micro-Internship allowed me to demonstrate my skills directly, making my transition to a full-time role seamless." This reflects a widespread sentiment among students who seek tangible work experiences that not only help them build essential skills but also significantly boost their employability.

    • Early engagement: A significant majority of students (69%) expressed a preference for earlier interaction with recruiters. Keion highlighted the challenges of late engagement, sharing, "Many students, including myself, wish we had begun our job searches earlier." Early engagement helps students align their academic pursuits with market needs, providing them a clearer path to relevant career opportunities.

    • Diverse and inclusive opportunities: Students are looking for recruitment activities that specifically cater to diverse groups, enhancing personal engagement and allowing companies to better understand varied student needs. Nyauni emphasized the importance of this approach: "Students need more than just job fairs; we look for real interaction and engagement that connects our educational efforts to real-world applications." Ny, who was in the honors program at her community college, noted that a lack of resources at the school motivated her to "do a lot of self-research to find opportunities." This comment underscores the need for accessible and inclusive recruiting practices that reach students at less resourced institutions.

    • Flexibility for busy schedules: A college water polo player, Alex emphasized the need for flexible and accessible career opportunities that accommodate busy schedules. "As a student-athlete, finding time for professional development was a significant challenge. It wasn't until my junior year that I actively sought internships," she explained. Her experience underlines the necessity for employers to offer adaptable engagement opportunities that can fit the varied schedules of students, including athletes.

    These insights underscored the evolving expectations of college students and recent graduates, who value practical experience, proactive engagement, and inclusivity in recruitment practices. Employers looking to attract top talent must adapt to these expectations by offering meaningful internships and engaging students earlier in their academic journeys. By doing so, companies not only enrich students' educational experiences but also enhance their own ability to scout and secure the best emerging talent.