For those whose university days seem a distant memory, experienced recruiters may struggle to get to grips with what new graduates really want from a job. Well fear no more! In this blog I hope to identify what it is that people in my position really want with four top tips…

Interest in the product: A key factor has to be the desire to market what interests you! Whether it’s sports, music or tv, no aspiring marketer attempts to enter the industry without the intention of marketing their passion. For me, the possibility of spending my career marketing musical equipment is the goal. Being an avid sports fan, that industry is also tremendously appealing. Frankly, I think the next Nike marketing campaign could really use my input.

Working environment: How about the surroundings - does it really make a difference to graduates? I can tell you that they absolutely do. I have no doubt that every 21 year old graduate, fresh from an exciting life at university, secretly (and sometimes vocally) resents the harsh reality of spending the rest of their life in a dull grey office. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Companies and agencies today often attempt to harness the creativity of their workforce with quirky and unusual décor. Having spent time at Savvy for work experience, I can confirm that they are a prime example of this.

Digital marketing: Not much appeals more to someone in my position than the prospect of becoming a trendy digital marketer. Regarded as a nonsense term by some professionals (isn’t all marketing digital to some degree nowadays?), slapping ‘digital’ on a job title attracts the younger generation like a magnet.

The company’s image: It’s only natural for a young person to be drawn to a company which is exciting, cool and creative. A quick browse on the company website may be all that’s needed to induce an interest. Ironically, how the company is marketed to us is an important factor. A company which ticks all our boxes in terms of image gets graduates saying ‘I want to work there!’

You may be asking yourself if I’m generalising slightly here, basing the desires of an entire demographic entirely on my own views. Well I like to think that all young, aspiring marketers are like minded in many respects. Although what we wish to market may differ, I believe that the character traits of our generation are represented through our aspiring marketers.

Alas, we are aware of the toughness of the job market and in today’s world, getting on the ladder seems daunting at times. This doesn’t stop us pushing for our dream job however, if only there was some sort of recruitment agency to help us…