Achievers and Experience Inc. Reveal Class of 2012 Study Results to Understand the Needs of the Future Workforce

SAN FRANCISCO and BOSTON, April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Achievers (formerly I Love Rewards), the leader in employee Rewards and Recognition solutions, today announces results from the Class of 2012 study, in partnership with Experience Inc., a career network for colleges and universities throughout the US since 1996. This is the largest study of its kind -- approximately 8,000 students across the country were surveyed in order to uncover how to recruit, retain and inspire the incoming workforce.

"The Class of 2012 survey of our database of Juniors and Seniors revealed the changing fabric of what Millennials are seeking in an entry level position," says Jenny Floren, Founder and CEO of Experience Inc. "Since last year's survey, the two most notable trends are the increased amount of students searching jobs on professional networks like LinkedIn and the demand for a higher salary. Recruiters should take note of these trends and act accordingly during the Spring hiring season."

Highlights from the "Class of 2012: Understanding the Needs of the Future Workforce" include:

• 88% plan to apply directly to the company they wish to work for
• 54% believe that career advancement opportunities are more important than salary when looking for work
• 35% plan to utilize LinkedIn as their top social media platform to look for a job
• 40% have an annual salary expectation of $50,000-$75,000 for their first job
• 47% plan to stay with their first employer from five to ten years

"In today's economy, human capital is the advantage. The Millennial generation is 75 million strong, and it is in the best interest of employers to capitalize on what they can offer," says Razor Suleman, Founder and Chairman of Achievers. "This study unveils key insight for employers to recruit top Millennial talent. Employers that understand the needs of Millennials and are more aligned with their values and expectations will be able to attract and capitalize on their energy and drive to advance and generate business results."

The Class of 2012 study was conducted in February 2012 through an online survey amongst a sample of 7,944 students across the United States. The sample included university students with the majority focus on those who would be graduating in the next one to two years. The source of the sample was drawn after targeting for graduation year from the Experience Inc. database of 5.2 million students at 3,800 universities.

About Achievers

Achievers is passionate about helping companies reward and recognize brilliant employee performance through our award-winning software. Customized to your company's brand and culture, Achievers provides easy-to-use social technologies to create authentic moments of recognition that increase employee engagement, retain top talent and drive business success. Achievers will change the way your employees, your managers and your company work together. For more information, visit www.achievers.com.

About Experience

Experience has been the leading provider of career services for colleges and universities since 1996. Today, 5 million students and recent graduates use the Experience network to find entry-level jobs and internships, and to access information that helps them bridge the gap between school and the professional world.  Over 3,800 colleges and universities are in the Experience network, connecting students and graduates with over 100,000 employers and recruiters that use Experience to connect with the best, qualified entry-level talent.

SOURCE Achievers