Wall Street Journal reports Big U.S. Companies Prefer Hires from State Schools
Posted: September 14th, 2010 | Filed under: Economy, Wall Street
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The Wall Street Journal recently published a survey showing that many big companies prefer to hire from big public schools rather than Ivy League institutions.
Whats interesting is that it makes complete sense. Big companies need people who will commit to their organization and hunker down in order to operate a business. Ivy League kids would be likely to show up for a couple of years and then depart for something (very likely professional or graduate school). It underscores the need to get Ivy League graduates engaged in building something that they can commit to, as big companies have figured out that theyre not a natural fit.
Employers Favor State Schools for Hires
U.S. companies largely favor graduates of big state universities over Ivy League and other elite liberal-arts schools when hiring to fill entry-level jobs, a Wall Street Journal study found.
Jennifer Merritt discusses a new Wall Street Journal survey, which reveals recruiters are shifting their attention away from elite private schools to focus instead on state universities.
In the studywhich surveyed 479 of the largest public and private companies, nonprofits and government agenciesPennsylvania State University, Texas A&M University and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked as top picks for graduates best prepared and most able to succeed.
Of the top 25 schools as rated by these employers, 19 were public, one was Ivy League (Cornell University) and the rest were private, including Carnegie Mellon and University of Notre Dame.
The Journal research represents a systematic effort to assess colleges by surveying employers recruiterswho decide where to seek out new hiresinstead of relying primarily on measures such as student test scores, college admission rates or graduates starting salaries. As a group, the survey participants hired more than 43,000 new graduates in the past year.
The recruiters perceptions matter all the more given that employers today are visiting fewer schools, partly due to the weak economy. Instead of casting a wide net, the Journal found, big employers are focusing more intently on nearby or strategically located research institutions with whom they can forge deeper partnerships with faculty.
The Journal study didnt examine smaller companies because they generally dont interact with as many colleges. In addition, the survey focused on hiring students with bachelors as opposed to graduate degrees.
The research highlighted a split in perception about state and private schools. Recruiters who named an Ivy League or elite liberal-arts school as a top pick say they prize their graduates intellect and cachet among clients, as well as soft skills like critical thinking and communication. But many companies said they need people with practical skills to serve as operations managers, product developers, business analysts and engineers. For those employeesthe bulk of their work forcethey turn to state institutions or other private schools offering that.
