Engineering graduates most desired by US employers, survey finds
April 2015 - Engineering
A recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers has found that those with a degree in Engineering are the most 
sought after graduates in the US.
The survey questioned over 1,000 of the NACE’s employer members and gained responses from 162 businesses in a range of sectors such as agriculture, energy and retail. Some of the companies surveyed were: American Express, Exxon Mobil, Merck, Procter & Gamble and United Airlines.
The sample were asked to rate the academic disciplines of graduates they’d like to recruit. The findings showed that 72 per cent of the companies asked desire engineering graduates and 68 per cent would like to recruit business graduates.
The results also found that 59 per cent of the respondents would like to hire computer science graduates, whilst 51 per cent would like to hire accounting graduates.
On the other hand, the degrees least desired by employers are: health sciences, education, agriculture and humanities.
The survey also found what employers value in new recruits. Some of the attributes were: critical thinking and problem solving, teamwork, professionalism and work ethic, oral and written communications, IT skills, leadership and career management.
According to the immediate past president of NACE's board, Dan Black, students studying towards non-technical degrees should speak to their careers advisor about how to put themselves forward for a job effectively.
Black also said that these students should seek networks of alumni who are now employed in industries and positions of interest. As well as this, non-technical graduates should seek internship schemes, volunteer and engage in activities which will impress and interest a prospective employer.
Black went on to claim that there may be mitigating factors for students who do not achieve perfect grades. He said that those working long hours to fund their degree should be taken into consideration and not written off lists of potential recruits, as this may have impacted their grades.
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