Employer Survey
Trends and insights from our June 2021 employer survey of over 500 organizations.
Key Takeaways: It's a good time to be a job seeker.
- Hiring has bounced back and surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Job postings in 2021 were 75% higher than 2019.
- Organizations are making an effort toward being more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Nearly 8 out of 10 organizations made strides towards workplace inclusivity.
- Recruiting timelines have been largely unaffected by COVID. Less than a third of employers reported any changes.
- Virtual recruiting is here to stay. Twice as many employers plan to interview virtually post COVID rather than in-person.
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are on the rise. 52% of employers are now using resume screening software.
Hiring Plans
6/10 employers plan to increase hiring.
508 employers responded to this question and almost 90% plan to increase or keep hiring at the same pace. At the same time, we've seen a 93% increase in Handshake postings compared to 2020. If you're thinking that's because 2020 was a bad year, 2021 postings increased 75% compared to 2019.
If you're having trouble finding open positions that fit your interests, consider reaching out to your career center and take a look at tips for making the most of Handshake.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
77% of organizations have adapted expectations around professional behavior to provide a more culturally inclusive environment.
When employers think to diversify - race or ethnicity, gender, and veteran status are their top areas of focus.
Every organization has a unique blend of priorities, mission, and values. It's important to find an organization where you feel valued for your contribution. We provide some identity based career resources and recommend connecting with your career office.
COVID Impacts and Virtual Recruiting
Only 27% of organizations changed their recruiting timeline due to COVID.
Organizations are largely sticking to their traditional recruiting timelines, which for many means recruiting as needed. While timelines vary by industry*, fall (September to October) and spring (late February to April) are the most common recruiting seasons.
Of the organizations changing things up, 61% are recruiting more just-in time rather than following specific timelines.
*For a breakdown of recruiting timelines by industry, visit our data dashboard of recruiting records from Handshake.
2x as many employers are planning to interview or host events virtually vs in-person post-COVID.
Employers have varied plans for in-person and virtual recruiting, but it is clear that virtual recruiting is here to stay.
Employers are mixed about career fairs.
We asked again about career fairs and got a slightly different response, showing some uncertainty about what the future holds. Unlike other forms of recruiting, employers aren't as sold on virtual fairs and show a readiness to return to in-person or hybrid options.
Respondents hired 73% of students interviewed after a virtual fair.
Whether or not employers prefer the virtual platform, it turned out to be a successful way for students and employers to connect.
Employer Advice for Virtual Interviewing
We asked employers, "What do our students need to know about virtual interviewing?"
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
52% of employers use an ATS.
Employers are increasingly using software to screen resumes and keep track of applications, and it changes the rules for resumes. If you're not familiar with ATS friendly resumes, here's a helpful article.
Employers are eager to engage!
It's important to know that employers want to connect with you and are often looking for ways to increase their reach to students. Check out Handshake, students orgs in your fields of interest, and your career office to find out what employers are doing on campus (in-person or virtually).
About the Survey
518 total respondents
