Network Trends

Actionable data from our network of students, career centers, and employers.

Data-driven insights from the Handshake network

Handshake Network Trends’ 2023 Year in Review Report presents platform activity across the 3 sides of our marketplace—students, employers, and career centers. Look back at 2023 trends for signals that will shape your year on Handshake in 2024, from the emojis you use (and don't use—sorry, 🦄  emoji ) to the jobs you post, the events you host, and the messages you send.

Read on for...

Hottest jobs

In-demand skills

Trending search terms

Most popular events

Trending benefits

Top times for messaging

Most popular majors

Hottest clubs on campus

Emojis of the year

Hottest jobs by application volume 

These roles received the most total applications from early talent candidates on Handshake this year:

Business Analysts and Management Consultants

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Office and Administrative Support Workers

Software Developers and Engineers

Data Analysts

Accountants and Auditors

Public Relations Specialists

Financial and Investment Analysts

Data Scientists

Human Resources Specialists

Most in-demand skills

Sales and marketing skills are just as sought after as tech skills. Employers on Handshake sent the most messaging campaigns targeting candidates with these skills in 2023:

Sales

Customer service

Leadership

Python

C++

Communication

Java

SQL

Marketing

Business Development

Top search terms

These were the most-searched-for terms by students and alumni on Handshake this year:

Marketing

Finance

Analyst

Software

Software engineer

Data analyst

Data

Research

Library

Psychology

Most popular employer events 

Employers used Handshake to host more than 200,000 events in 2023, with close to 3 million total registrations from candidates. The most common event formats were:

General info sessions

Workshops

Networking events

Overall, employers offered more in-person than virtual events in 2023, but virtual options remained popular with candidates:

Early talent candidates registered for virtual workshops at higher rates than in-person

Virtual and in-person info sessions had about the same number of registrants on average

In-person networking events attracted more registrants than their virtual counterparts

Trending employer benefit

More than half of current undergrads on Handshake expect to graduate with student loan debt, and forward-thinking employers are stepping up to help. The share of new job descriptions on Handshake that mention student loan repayment support has more than doubled in the past three years.

Top times for messaging

Early talent candidates sent more than 3 million messages to employers and career services through Handshake in 2023. Candidates were most engaged with messaging:

In the fall—September and October were the most active months for messaging, followed by January and February. Candidates were least active in June and July.

In the middle of the week—job seekers on Handshake aren’t waiting for the weekend to message employers. The most messaging-heavy day of the week was Wednesday, followed by Thursday and Tuesday; Saturday and Sunday came in at the back of the pack.

In the evenings—candidate messaging activity peaked between 5 and 8pm, while mornings, particularly the hours between 7 and 11am, were least active.

Most popular majors

Current undergrads on Handshake are most likely to be majoring in one of these 10 fields:

Psychology

Business Administration & Management

Computer Science

Biology

Nursing

Communication & Media Studies

Finance & Financial Management

Marketing

Accounting

Criminal Justice

10 majors to watch

Less-traditional majors are gaining traction, especially in tech fields. These majors have jumped in popularity in the past year:

Computer Engineering

Construction Management

Counseling

Cybersecurity

Entrepreneurship

Epidemiology

Health & Exercise Science

Game Development

Operations Management

Social Computing

The hottest club on campus is… 

Students on Handshake were most likely to list these organizations and extracurriculars on their profiles this year:

National Honors Society

Christian Fellowship

Women in Business

Undergraduate Student Government

Black Student Alliance

Society of Women Engineers

Boy Scouts of America

Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA)

Red Cross

Finance Club

Emojis of the year

If a picture is worth a thousand words, employers, early talent candidates, and career services spoke volumes to each other in 2023. More than 500 different emojis showed up in messages and job descriptions on Handshake this year, with the most common emojis giving smiley, sparkly, and occasionally sweaty:

Trending emojis

Pets are in—the 🐶 and 🐱emojis made the top 50 most popular emojis (out of 500+) in job descriptions in 2023, thanks to more employers offering perks like pet insurance and pet-friendly offices. But unicorns are out—the 🦄  emoji showed up in fewer than 10 job descriptions on Handshake this year.

Coffee and sushi top the list of popular office emoji-snacks—here are the most common food and beverage emojis used in job descriptions: ☕, 🍣, 🥘, 🍳, 🍬, 🍻, 🍔, 🍕, 🌮, 🥕

Candidates’ most-used emojis may be all smiles, but that doesn’t mean job searching is easy—the 😭, 🤦, and 😞 emojis made frequent appearances in candidate messages this year, usually in reference to missed deadlines and scheduling conflicts.

Which trends stood out to you this year?

Did you see any of these trends in action? Is there one we missed? How will this data inform your strategy for 2024? Let us know on social at @joinhandshake or tag #OurYearOnHandshake to share your thoughts.






Top early talent trends of 2023

Today’s students and new grads have a unique perspective on remote work and flexibility. Learning and working remotely isn’t novel to them—they’ve navigated their share of Zoom classes and remote internships, and they’re clear-eyed about the pros and cons. And after having their college experience disrupted by the pandemic, they’re craving both in-person interaction and sustainable work-life balance. 

As a result, at a time when many people think of remote work and flexible work as one and the same, this generation’s priorities are more nuanced. Benefits like being able to set their own schedule are often as or more important to them than the option to work from home.

Not every employer can offer remote work. But any employer can appeal to this new generation of talent by broadening their definition of flexibility and getting creative about the flexible work benefits they can offer. Our research reveals four things all employers should keep in mind:

Most early-career professionals want to work in person at least some of the time. Of students on Handshake who say remote work is an option in their field, only 14% would prefer a fully-remote role.

Remote work matters less to early talent than other forms of flexibility. For example, 71% of students are more likely to apply to a job with a flexible schedule, compared to just 37% who are more likely to apply to a job with hybrid work options.

Early talent believes both remote and in-person work can support productivity and well-being. Two thirds of students say they can produce high-quality work in both remote and in-person settings, and more than half say work-life balance can be a benefit of either remote or in-person work.

Identity plays an important role in shaping remote and in-person work experiences. For example, women are less likely than men to say opportunities for training, mentorship, and advancement are benefits of in-person work.

Read on for a deeper dive into each of these insights.

Most early-career hires want to spend time in the office

Our research over the past year has consistently shown that students and new grads prefer hybrid work. In our latest survey, 75% of students who plan to work in fields where remote work is an option said they’re hoping for a job with a hybrid schedule, while only 14% said they’d like to be fully remote.

It’s also important to remember that remote work simply isn’t possible in many fields. About 40% of students on Handshake plan to pursue jobs that typically require in-person work, such as certain roles in education, healthcare, agriculture, or transportation. These students fully expect to work in person, and it’s likely that for many, in-person work aligns with their strengths and the types of roles they’re excited about.

Early talent values other forms of work-life flexibility above remote work

Flexibility can mean many things. For some early-career professionals, the option to work remotely may be an important part of what makes a job feel “flexible”—but for most, other aspects of work-life flexibility matter more than remote or hybrid work.

When asked about the factors that motivate them to apply for certain jobs, for example, 71% of students say they’d be more likely to apply for a job with a flexible schedule. That’s compared to just 21% who would be more likely to apply to a fully remote job, and 37% who would be more likely to apply to a job that offered hybrid work options.

Our data also shows that early-career talent cares less about flexibility for flexibility’s sake, and more about whether an employer’s policies support them in pursuing interests and priorities outside of work. For example, only about a third of students say it’s very important that they’re able to set their own work hours—but more than two thirds say it’s very important that they’re able to find time for hobbies and step away from work as needed to handle personal responsibilities.

Early talent believes both remote and in-person work can support productivity and well-being

When it comes to productivity, work-life balance, and opportunity to advance, most early-career professionals don’t think remote or in-person work is necessarily better. Rather, they see benefits to both—which may explain why so many prefer a hybrid schedule.

However, early talent does believe in-person work is better for collaboration and relationships with colleagues. More than half of students on Handshake say increased opportunity to collaborate is a clear benefit of in-person work, and two thirds say the same of the ability to build stronger relationships.

Race and gender play an important role in shaping in-person work experiences

Although most women and students of color want to work in person at least some of the time, their feelings about in-person work differ in several important ways. Black and Hispanic or Latine students, in particular, are less likely than white students to say it’s easier to collaborate and build relationships in person, and less likely to believe working in person will result in more opportunities for training and mentorship, which may help to explain why they are often more likely to prefer remote work.

Likewise, women are less likely than men to believe working in person will benefit their careers. Only 21% of women say opportunity for recognition and advancement is a clear benefit of in-person work, compared to 31% of men. For employers looking to create fair and effective return-to-office strategies, these differences point to the importance of ensuring in-person work environments are inclusive and offer equal benefit to all employees.

The future is flexible

On Handshake, we see more and more employers beginning to adapt to Gen Z’s flexibility preferences. The share of fully-remote roles on our platform has declined steadily over the past year, and remote roles now account for only about 5% of active job openings. At the same time, however, mentions of flexibility in job descriptions have increased. About 24% of jobs on Handshake nodded to flexibility in their descriptions as of July 2023, compared to around 18% in January 2020.

The future of remote work is still uncertain. What is clear, though, is that students and new grads want their employers to take a more holistic approach to flexibility. Any employer can offer flexibility benefits that appeal to this new generation of talent, and employers that embrace an expansive definition of flexible work will have a big advantage when it comes to attracting early-career hires.

Methodology

Student sentiment surveys

Between June 26–July 12, 2023, Handshake randomly invited students across the platform to participate in an online survey. After cleaning, 2,617 students pursuing bachelor's degrees completed the survey.

Survey weighting

In order to provide a more representative snapshot of student sentiment across four-year college students in the US, survey responses were weighted by gender, race and ethnicity, and selectivity using institutional enrollment numbers from federal NCES datasets.

Job description data

To determine change in the share of job descriptions mentioning flexibility, Handshake analyzed full-time job descriptions that were active in a given month on the Handshake network between 1/1/2022 to 7/1/2023.

How Gen Z defines “flexibility” (hint: it includes in-person work)

Key takeaways

Early-career accountants are in demand across industries. Accountant is the second most-posted job role on Handshake, and is among the top five most-posted roles in nine different industries.

After a dip in recent years, interest in accounting careers may be rebounding. About 2.5% of Class of 2025 bachelor’s degree students on Handshake are majoring in accounting, up from 2.1% of the Class of 2023.

Accounting firms are increasingly emphasizing social impact—and it’s paying off. More than 1 in 4 accounting jobs posted on Handshake in 2023 mentioned social impact, and jobs that included social impact keywords in their descriptions received about 80% more applications.

Students from a range of majors are applying to accountant roles. Business, economics, and political science majors make up a significant share of applicants to accountant roles, and tech majors now account for about 15% of the applicant pool.

Early-career accountants are in demand across industries

Employers posted more than 27,000 full-time accountant roles on Handshake in 2023, making accountant the second most in-demand role after general administrative support workers. Notably, the median salary listed for full-time accountant openings also rose by about 10% between November 2022 and November 2023. Industry leaders expect demand for early-career accountants to continue to grow; a 2023 report by the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) found that 50% of US CPA firms expected to increase hiring of new grads into accounting functions, while only 6% expected to decrease hiring.

While a significant share of the demand for early-career accountants comes from financial services firms, students and new grads with accounting skills have opportunities available to them in almost any industry. About 75% of the accountant roles posted on Handshake in 2023 came from companies in industries outside financial services—including government, manufacturing, healthcare, and technology—and accountants were among the top five most-posted roles in nine different industries.

Kate Guerrero, director of Business Career Services at Cal State Fullerton College of Business, confirms that students in the College’s accounting concentration are graduating with a wide range of job opportunities. “In today's dynamic accounting landscape, accounting students are empowered with a variety of career path options spanning public, corporate, and government accounting realms,” Guerrero explains. “While many of our students follow the traditional public accountant career path, we are seeing an increasing number of students exploring career paths, and securing positions, in industries outside of financial services.”

After a dip in recent years, interest in accounting careers may be rebounding

The number of undergraduate accounting degrees awarded fell steeply between 2016 and 2022, mid ongoing concerns about strict CPA licensing requirements creating a high barrier to entry for the profession. But accounting is now seeing a slight uptick in popularity among students on Handshake. A little over 2.5% of students in the Class of 2025 are accounting majors, up from about 2.1% of the Class of 2023, with finance majors following a similar trend.

There are many possible reasons for this rebound in interest, but job security likely plays a big role. A 2023 survey by accounting firm EY found that “career stability and comfortable lifestyle” was the most common motivation students cited for pursuing accounting careers—and with stability and financial well-being increasingly top of mind for early talent, it’s not surprising that more students are considering this field. EY also noted that more than three quarters of students believe an accounting degree will have long-term career benefits, and about a third see an accounting career as a stepping-stone to other leadership opportunities.

AT&T is one company that’s successfully recruiting early-career accountants by emphasizing career development and the chance to build a wide range of leadership skills. Astad Dhunjisha, Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition for AT&T, notes that participants in the telecom leader’s Accounting Leadership Development Program “are afforded hands-on experience across corporate accounting roles including the controller, tax, and audit divisions” and “gain a deep understanding of the strategies and leadership skills required for growth.” AT&T also “backs its participants throughout the program, offering valuable support such as covering the cost for CPA materials and exams, a one-time bonus upon passing the CPA exam, and for some, the potential of a full-time role after their program ends.” The program has seen a 10% increase in applicants since its launch in 2022, which Dhunisha says “highlights the enthusiasm we’ve seen from applicants and participants and underscores AT&T’s commitment to creating a robust pipeline of future finance leaders.”

More accounting firms are emphasizing social impact—and it’s paying off

“Opportunity to contribute to society” and “the chance to impact sustainability” are two of the top four reasons students choose to pursue accounting, according to EY. And while accounting firms haven’t historically emphasized opportunity for social impact in their recruiting—only 29% of the executives EY surveyed said their team highlights this as a benefit to prospective employees—that’s starting to change, especially as the industry evolves to include more roles focused on issues like pay equity and climate change.

More than 1 in 4 of accountant jobs posted on Handshake in 2023 mentioned keywords related to environmental and social responsibility, responsible governance, and diversity and inclusion, compared to 1 in 5 in 2021. Jobs that mentioned these keywords received about 80% more applications on average. As a result, jobs with social impact keywords received more than a third of all applications to accountant roles in 2023, up from just over a quarter two years ago. EY research also found that more than 7 in 10 students believe they could make a real-world impact as an accountant, further indication that early-career professionals are taking note of a shift in the industry.

Mügé Tuna, Director of Employer Engagement & Strategic Partnerships for Undergraduate Career Services at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, says increased emphasis on social impact is helping drive an uptick in interest in accounting among students. “At Kelley, we have observed a significant increase in accounting majors from the class of 2024 to the class of 2025,” says Tuna. “This change underscores the shifting dynamics within the field and the broader interests of our students.” She notes that the university’s accounting program incorporates an intentional focus on social impact, explaining that “our aim is to equip our students not only with the skills to manage the complexities of accounting but also with the leadership qualities necessary to appreciate and contribute to social responsibility in their careers.”

Madison Perich, a senior at Cal State Fullerton, was drawn to accounting and to a role with EY because of the opportunity for positive social impact. “Choosing accounting isn’t just about numbers; it’s about being a part of a positive change," Perich says. “It's important to me to align myself with a company that holds values similar to my own. EY’s focus on issues like sustainability and social responsibility is the reason I chose to pursue a career with their firm.” Perich will start a full-time role in EY’s Los Angeles office after graduation.

Students from a range of majors are applying to accountant roles

A finance or accounting degree isn’t the only pathway into an accounting career. Core skills such as mathematics, data analysis, and general business knowledge can be gained through a variety of degree programs, and with early-career accountants in high demand it’s not surprising that students from a range of academic backgrounds are showing interest in this field.

In particular, as accounting becomes more tech-enabled, students majoring in tech fields (such as computer science, data science, and business analytics) are increasingly likely to consider accountant roles. Tech majors made up about 15% of applicants to accountant openings on Handshake in 2023, compared to about 9% in 2020.

Accounting is undergoing an exciting transformation

Over the past few years, several factors have converged to reignite interest in accounting and challenge the industry’s outdated reputation. Accounting firms and professionals are finding new ways to impact social issues such as climate change and economic equity. Cutting-edge technologies, including AI, are reshaping what accounting work looks like and what accountants can accomplish. At the same time, a new generation craving stability and security is recognizing the benefits of accounting careers. Accounting has a bright future, and Gen Z will play a major role in shaping its next chapter.

Methodology

Application and job post trends are based on Handshake platform activity between December 2019 and December 2023.

Industry classifications are based on employer self-identification on the Handshake platform.

Major classifications are based on data provided by students and higher education institutions through the Handshake platform.

Tech majors include bachelor's degree students majoring in the following fields: Business Analytics, Computer Engineering, Computer Engineering Technologies & Technicians, Computer Programming, Computer Science, Computer Systems Networking & Telecommunications, Cyber Security, Data Mining, Data Science, Information Systems Management, Mathematics, Software Design, Statistics, User Experience/Social Computing

Gen Z gives accounting careers a closer look

Key findings

The federal government is doubling down on early-career hiring. Job postings from federal employers on Handshake have increased by 22% over the past year.

The federal government’s efforts to attract early talent are paying off. Total applications to federal employers have more than doubled over the past year, and the average number of applications per open job has increased by 55%, compared to a 38% increase across all industries.

Jobs in the federal government are appealing to students with many different skill sets. Business, computer science, and civics and government majors account for a large share of applicants, and students in niche in-demand majors such as cybersecurity and epidemiology submit a significant share of their applications to federal roles.

Students from minority-serving institutions are submitting more applications to federal roles. Total applications to federal employers from students at minority-serving institutions have doubled year over year, and applications from students at historically Black colleges and universities are up 110%.

Federal employers are hiring nationwide. Unsurprisingly, Washington, D.C. has the highest concentration of federal jobs—but there are opportunities for early talent across the country, including in cities like Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco.

The federal government is doubling down on early-career hiring

Building a pipeline of future leaders is an increasingly urgent priority for the federal government. A third of federal employees are over age 55, which means they’re nearing retirement, and only 8% are under age 30. Hiring more students and new grads is critical to shifting those demographics.

Earlier this year, the federal Office of Personnel Management issued new guidance encouraging all federal agencies to increase pathways for Gen Z to enter the federal workforce, and launched a centralized portal for students exploring internship opportunities in the federal government. Every federal agency uses Handshake—alongside other government recruiting tools like USAJobs—to connect with early-career talent, and federal employers are steadily expanding their activity on the Handshake platform.

Federal employers posted 22% more full-time jobs on Handshake between August 2022 and August 2023 compared to the prior year, with several major agencies more than doubling the number of jobs they posted. Some job types—including customer support, accounting, and environmental science roles—saw even stronger growth. Postings for tech roles also ticked up; for example, postings for data science and analytics roles increased 9%, and postings for computer and network security roles were up 6%.

To fill these new job openings, the federal government is stepping up proactive outreach and casting a wider net in both virtual and in-person recruiting. The average federal employer messaged about 24% more students through the Handshake platform between August 2022 and August 2023 compared to the prior year, and federal employers collectively reached out to students at more than 2,000 schools—an increase in school reach of about 25%. Federal employers also collectively registered for about 3,000 career fairs on Handshake between August 2022 and August 2023, an increase of about 15% compared to the prior year.

The federal government’s efforts to attract early-career talent are paying off

Students on Handshake are showing strong and growing interest in federal government roles. Total applications to federal employers have more than doubled over the past year, and the average number of applications per open job has increased by 55%, compared to a 38% increase across all industries. As a result, federal jobs now receive twice as many applications on average as jobs on Handshake overall. Visits to federal employer profile pages are also up by 26%, compared to an increase of just 17% across all employers. And federal employers received applications from students at more than 1,500 schools between August 2022 and August 2023—up from about 1,200 schools the prior year.

College and university leaders are seeing this increased interest firsthand. Saskia Campbell, Executive Director of University Career Services at George Mason University, says students at George Mason “are attracted to public service because they are seeking purpose-driven work, craving job security, and understand that the federal government is the largest employer with opportunities in our local area, across the country and the world.”

Gihan Fernando, Assistant Vice Provost of the American University Career Center, is seeing a similar trend. “American University students have always been interested in making societal impact through careers in the federal government,” says Fernando. “Federal agencies like the US Department of State and the intelligence agencies are regularly in the top five most desired employers among our students.”

Interest in federal tech roles, in particular, is quickly outpacing interest in similar roles with other employers. For example, the average number of applications to software developer openings in the federal government increased by almost 200% over the past year, compared to an increase of about 100% across all other industries, and we see similar trends for data scientist and information security analyst roles.

Jobs in the federal government are appealing to students with many different skill sets

No single academic major dominates the federal applicant pool on Handshake, and the majors that are best-represented range from business, to computer science, to social science and civics and government (including political science and international studies). Notably—and in keeping with the theme of federal tech roles gaining popularity—computer science majors are slightly overrepresented in the federal applicant pool compared to applicants on Handshake overall.

Total application volume is only part of the story, though, especially when it comes to students in small-but-in-demand fields. To understand interest from students in niche majors, we can look at the share of their applications that are submitted to roles in the federal government. For example, about 10% of applications from cybersecurity majors are submitted to federal roles, compared to only about 3% of applications across all majors—and that number has increased significantly over the past year. This is encouraging news for federal employers looking to recruit students with specialized skills.

Students from minority-serving institutions are submitting more applications to federal roles

The federal government has made a strong commitment to diversifying its workforce, and that effort is yielding results with early talent. Total applications to federal roles from students at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) have doubled year over year. Applications from students at Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) are up 87%, and applications from students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are up 110%.

HBCU students, in particular, are also submitting a significantly greater share of their total applications to federal roles. Between August 2022 and August 2023, 7.1% of all applications submitted by HBCU students on Handshake went to federal roles, compared to 3.2% the prior year. The same upward trend holds for students at MSIs and HSIs—3.3% of applications from MSI students went to federal roles over the past year, compared to 1.9% the prior year, and the share of HSI student applications submitted to federal roles increased from 2% to 3.1%.

Howard University is one historically Black university that’s seen rising student interest in federal roles. Kemi Omisore, Director of Howard’s Center for Career & Professional Success, explains that these roles have significant practical appeal for Gen Z. "There’s a pull toward government jobs that offer stability and essential benefits,” she explains. “Students who have witnessed layoffs in other industries want to connect with employers that can provide job security, and we’re excited that those opportunities are available to them within federal government roles.”

Federal employers are hiring nationwide

Early-career professionals don’t need to move to the nation’s capital—or even to the northeast—to pursue a career with the federal government. Although Washington, D.C. has the highest concentration of federal jobs, federal employers have opportunities for students and new grads in most major cities across the country, and many federal roles are posted in cities like Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco.

The University of Texas at San Antonio encourages students to consider federal roles both locally and across the country. “UTSA's classroom-to-career training equips our students for success in government work,” says Mario Vela, Assistant Vice Provost of Career Engaged Learning. “Ensuring they are well prepared for federal jobs not only invests in their future but also in our nation's future, as they will play a pivotal role in shaping the policies and services that impact us all.”

Federal roles are a great fit for Gen Z

The federal government hasn’t historically been top of mind for young professionals applying to their first job, but that’s changing. Federal jobs can offer many things today’s students and new grads care deeply about, including job stability, pay transparency, and the opportunity to play a role in addressing critical social and environmental issues. In return, early-career hires are bringing in-demand skills and new ideas and perspectives to government agencies. As more young professionals step into these roles over the next few years, the positive impact on everyone—government leaders, early-career talent, and people across the U.S. who rely on government services—will only continue to grow.


Methodology

Employer classification

Federal employers on Handshake were identified using ZoomInfo classifications in combination with publicly-available lists of federal agencies, departments, and committees. The findings in this report are based on data from a total of 508 federal employers registered on Handshake.

Time period

Unless otherwise noted, all data in this report is based on employer and job seeker activity on the Handshake platform between August 1, 2022 and August 1, 2023. Where year-over-year comparisons are indicated, the comparison is to the same period the prior year (August 1, 2021 to August 1, 2022).


Industry spotlight: How—and why—the federal government is winning Gen Z hires

Key Takeaways

Almost two-thirds of respondents stated that they were more likely to apply to a job that committed to sustainable practices.

Three out of five respondents said that they avoid employers they perceive as having a negative impact on the environment.

54% of respondents said that sustainability played a role in their motivation to work remotely.

As the largest, most racially and ethnically diverse generation in U.S. history, Gen Z is already driving significant societal change in cultural, political, and economic systems—proving that this generation is serious when it comes to paving a path for their future.

Enter climate change: a leading topic of concern for Gen Z, one that this cohort has been particularly tenacious about tackling. With limited time (less than 8 years) left on meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, many Gen Z have shifted their focus, and even lifestyle, to protect the environment.

The momentum around climate change has not ceased when it comes to the workplace. In addition to flexibility, job security, and equitable pay, Gen Z is also indicating an interest in a company’s sustainability practices, prompting the question:

Is climate change impacting how today’s students are pursuing job opportunities?

Handshake analyzed over 1.8 million full time job postings and surveyed 1.8k users to better understand how students are planning their coursework and career paths to prioritize sustainability in their career. We explore the key takeaways below:

According to data from the Handshake network, almost two-thirds (65%) of respondents stated that they were more likely to apply to a job that committed to sustainable practices. This could include a signed climate pledge, carbon offsets, or corporate sustainability initiatives.

Notably, three out of five respondents said that they avoid employers they perceive as having a negative impact on the environment. This indicates a strong demand from today’s students for prospective employers to clearly communicate their corporate social responsibilities.

And when it comes to working remotely, Gen Z views the benefits of remote work going beyond flexibility, work-life balance, and even productivity. WFH also helps to reduce carbon emissions from work commutes. 54% of respondents said that sustainability played a role in their motivation to work remotely.

Today’s students are incorporating studies in environmental science and sustainability into their career search. While their major may not specifically be “environmental sciences,” many are pursuing bachelor's degrees in complementary spaces that enable them to pursue a career in climate.

In fact, “green majors”—defined as a list of identified majors that prepare students for a climate career–make up 13% of all majors on Handshake based on the number of activated student accounts. Examples of such majors include Agriculture & Biological Engineering, Biology, Conservation, Chemistry, Environmental Management & Sciences, and more.

If not pursuing a “green major,” many job seekers on Handshake have opted to take environmental science-related courses, including statistics, organic chemistry, calculus, environmental economics, and more.

In exploring job descriptions posted by employers on the platform, terms like “sustainability,” “climate pact,” and “climate corporate responsibility” are once again making an appearance.

Post-covid, there was a dip in active jobs mentioning environmental practice keywords. Since September 2021, these mentions have generally seemed to recover. In fact, since summer of 2020, there’s been an over 2x increase in the number of mentions of those keywords in job descriptions. This could suggest two things: An increase in jobs that’s related to sustainability, and a potential increase in employers promoting climate pledges and organizational commitments as part of their company value description.

In the last decade, more and more companies have started to increase efforts to help reduce carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Over 300 companies have signed the Climate Pledge, an initiative co-founded in 2019 by Amazon and Global Optimism which calls on signatories to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. And companies on Handshake, including PepsiCo, Chevron, McDonald's, Walmart, and more, have rolled out their own initiatives to help use resources more efficiently, reduce greenhouse emissions, restore ecosystems, reduce deforestation, and more.

Closing + Methodology

What this means for students: There are ample opportunities for students wishing to incorporate their values around climate action into their future career.

Regardless of where you choose to focus your area of study, as long as you have applicable coursework, there are options to leverage your learnings and pursue “green jobs” opportunities. For those interested in “green” opportunities within the tech space, remember that there are similar opportunities within government organizations, utility companies, construction companies, and even research and marketing firms. Many of these opportunities require similar skillsets.

For students and new grads who may not be pursuing a career in climate action, but still care deeply about protecting the environment, a great way to align your values with a prospective company is to review their social responsibilities page. This page typically outlines commitments to sustainable practices, in addition to their company values, DEI&B statements, mental health programs, and more.

What this means for employers: Climate change is not only top of mind for current college students and new grads looking to incorporate sustainable practices into their everyday lives, it’s become part of Gen Z’s values when it comes to evaluating career opportunities overall. This provides a great opportunity for employers to showcase the progress they’ve made on sustainability or climate pacts in their job descriptions, on their websites, and across social media.

Climate action takes center stage for Gen Z

Key findings

Construction companies are turning to early talent to meet record-high labor demand. Construction employers increased outreach to students on Handshake by 46% over the past year, and significantly increased internship postings for certain functions.

Early talent is drawn to stable, high-paying jobs in construction. Applications to architecture, drafting, and construction management roles have risen by more than 40% on Handshake in the past year.

With big tech faltering, tech majors are increasingly excited about construction roles. Applications to construction industry roles from computer science and data science majors more than doubled over the past year.

Gen Z is poised to bring much-needed diversity to the construction industry. Women make up only 10.9% of the current construction workforce, but account for 36% of applicants to construction jobs on Handshake.

Early-career talent is poised to play a critical role in addressing the construction worker shortage

Labor demand in the construction industry is at a historic high. According to an analysis by the trade association Associated Builders and Contractors, the industry will need to attract an estimated 546,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2023 alone. Additionally, nearly 1 in 4 construction workers is over age 55, which means retirements are rapidly whittling away at the workforce.

The funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is further increasing the need for skilled workers to fill construction roles. McKinsey estimates that in 2028, the industry will be facing a shortfall attributable to the BIL of more than 160,000 workers in the contractor and subcontractor sector, 145,000 workers in the materials sector, and 40,000 workers in the engineering and technical services sector.

On Handshake, construction job creation has been highest over the past year in states that are receiving the most BIL funding—including California, Florida, and New York. And job openings in several of the states receiving the most per-capita funding, including Alaska, Wyoming, and Vermont, have increased significantly on our platform in the past year.

The record talent demand in construction presents an opportunity for early-career hires to step in, and for employers to start developing their next generation of leaders. Our data shows that construction companies are recognizing the importance of early talent—employers in this industry have significantly increased outreach to potential candidates on Handshake over the past year, messaging 46% more students compared to an increase of just 19% across all industries. Construction employers have also increased intern hiring in certain functions; for example, engineering internship openings at construction companies have increased by 12% year over year.

With the industry outpacing job and wage growth expectations even in an uncertain economy, early talent is demonstrating growing interest in construction careers. Total applications to roles such as architecture, drafting, and construction management have risen by more than 40% on Handshake in the past year, compared to an average increase of 26% across all roles on our platform. Internship applications are following similar trends; for example, applications to architecture internships have increased by more than 60%.

Many colleges and universities are actively encouraging students’ interest in construction careers. Dr. Jose Faria, Endowed Chair of the Moss Department of Construction Management at Florida International University (FIU), shared that “Given the growing demand for construction management positions, we promote students' job applications during their studies by organizing a Career Expo specifically for Construction Management students twice a year.” Dr. Faria added that “The Construction Management program at FIU offers a flexible schedule, enabling students to pursue daytime work and attend evening classes.”

Early-career tech talent could transform how the construction industry operates

Technology solutions such as integrated project management software, 3D printing, and augmented reality could dramatically improve efficiency and safety in the construction industry. But companies in this space have typically been slow to adopt new tech. A KPMG report found that only 16 percent of construction executives say their organizations have fully integrated available construction technology systems and tools, and just 6 percent have automated all or most of their business processes.

To close these gaps, the industry will need an influx of tech-savvy employees. More than a third of construction companies say a lack of skilled labor is preventing them from adopting new technology. Fortunately, construction is one of several industries that’s become more appealing to early-career tech talent over the past year in the wake of layoffs and hiring freezes at major tech firms. Applications from tech majors to construction industry roles on Handshake increased by 70% over the past year, compared to an average increase of 60% across all industries, and applications from computer science and data science majors were up by more than 100%.

Not surprisingly, growing interest from tech majors is also reflected in an uptick in applications to tech roles in the construction industry. Total applications to tech roles at construction companies increased by 84% over the past year, compared to an increase of 44% across all industries.

The following are some of the most popular construction companies with tech majors on Handshake, based on a combination of applications, job views, and employer profile views:

Diversity is a longstanding challenge in construction—Gen Z could change that

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2022 only 10.9% of construction employees were women, just 6.7% were Black, and a mere 2.1% were Asian. And although Hispanic employees make up more than 30% of construction workers, they’re often in lower-level positions with limited opportunity for advancement.

Diversifying the construction workforce is an increasingly urgent priority for the industry. With women and people of color making up an increasing share of the US workforce overall, recruiting diverse talent will be essential to addressing the construction labor shortage. Research shows that diverse teams realize higher profits, and that safety outcomes may improve when construction teams are both diverse and inclusive. Construction companies that bid for federal government contracts are also required to demonstrate that they’re creating opportunities for women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups.

Building a more diverse and inclusive construction industry will take effort and commitment from all stakeholders, and there’s no quick-fix solution. But there are signs Gen Z is already pushing the industry in the right direction. On Handshake, women accounted for 36% of applications to jobs in the construction industry over the past year, and students of color accounted for more than 60%. These general trends also hold for specific, in-demand construction roles such as civil engineering, architecture, and construction management—in all three of these functions, women and students of color are significantly better-represented among Handshake applicants than in the industry as it currently stands overall.

Matt Rosentreter, Talent Generation Manager at employee-owned construction leader Burns & McDonnell, says Gen Z talent is especially important to diversity progress. “GenZ is one of the most diverse generations to ever enter the workforce,” he explains. “Their unique perspectives and diverse skill sets will be critical to addressing the upcoming challenges facing the construction industry.”

Laura Cosgriff, Construction Program Coordinator for the Division of Engineering, Business, and Information Technologies at Lorain County Community College, has seen growing interest in construction among students with a wide range of backgrounds and identities. In particular, she says “more female students are enrolling in the construction program and taking advantage of work-based learning opportunities available at our institution.” The program offers a variety of hands-on learning opportunities, which Cosgriff says are increasingly seen as valuable by both students and industry partners.

The construction industry is building toward an even brighter future

Major infrastructure investments will create huge opportunities for construction companies over the next few years. To seize the moment, those companies will need to hire more skilled workers, speed up technology adoption, and attract a wider range of diverse talent. Top employers are already turning to Gen Z to help them meet those goals, and Gen Z is answering the call. It’s clear that early-career professionals are poised to make a profound impact on the construction industry, and we can’t wait to watch their work unfold.

Methodology

Industry classifications are based on employer self-identification on the Handshake platform. All companies that self-identified their industry as either Construction, Construction & Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Architecture & Planning were included in the overall construction industry analysis.

Application trends are based on applications to full-time jobs and internships by students and alumni on the Handshake platform between July 1, 2021 and July 1, 2023.

Employer popularity is based on a weighted average of applications per job, job views, and employer profile views between June 1, 2022 and June 1, 2023.

Industry spotlight: Record talent demand in construction is creating opportunities for Gen Z

Employers

Tips and trends for modern recruiting

Find the talent you’re looking for

While entry level candidates today are likely to do their research on employers before the interview stage, interviews might be the first human connection in their job search process. Good interview questions for students and new grads offer an engaging touchpoint and customize the candidate experience, while helping you assess for the most qualified candidates.

Here are 50 sample questions to ask in an interview with college students and recent grads. Consider adding some of these to your rubric and asking the same questions to each candidate for fair scoring.



General background & icebreakers

1. Tell me a little about yourself and what led you to this interview.

2. What are three words your professors or peers would use to describe you?

3. Why did you choose your major, and how has it shaped what you’re looking for in a career?

4. What excites you most about starting your career?

5. What’s a class project or extracurricular accomplishment you’re most proud of?

6. If you had a superpower, what would it be?



Work ethic & motivation

7. What motivates you to do your best work?

8. Can you share an experience where you had to push yourself outside your comfort zone?

9. Tell me about a time you had to meet a tight deadline. How did you handle it?

10. What does success look like to you in your first six months at a new job?

11. How do you stay organized when juggling multiple responsibilities?



Problem-solving & critical thinking

12. Tell me about a time you faced a challenge and how you approached solving it.

13. Describe a time when you encountered a problem on a group project. How did you help solve it?

14. How do you handle constructive criticism? Can you share an example?

15. If you were given an unfamiliar task with no instructions, how would you move forward?



Teamwork & collaboration

16. Describe a group project where you had to work with different personalities. How did you navigate it?

17. Have you ever had a disagreement with a teammate? How did you resolve it?

18. What role do you typically take in a team or group setting?

19. Tell me about a time you helped a teammate succeed.

20. How would you handle collaborating with people who have different work styles?



Communication skills

21. Give an example of a time you had to explain something complex to someone with no prior knowledge of the topic.

22. How do you handle miscommunication in a professional setting?

23. Have you ever had to present in front of a group? How did you prepare?

24. What strategies do you use to ensure your written communication is clear and professional?

25. How would you approach giving feedback to a peer or colleague?



Adaptability & learning mindset

26. How do you handle unexpected changes or challenges?

27. Tell me about a time you had to learn a new skill quickly.

28. What’s a mistake you’ve made, and what did you learn from it?

29. How do you stay up to date with industry trends or new knowledge related to your field?

30. Can you describe a situation where you had to be flexible and adjust your approach?



Internships, work experience & leadership

31. What did you learn from your internships or part-time jobs that will help in this role?

32. Describe a time you took on a leadership role, even if you weren’t the official leader.

33. Have you ever had to work on a project with minimal guidance? How did you handle it?

34. What’s one of the most important lessons you’ve learned from a past job or internship?

35. Tell me about a time you received feedback at work and how you applied it.



Technical & role-specific questions

36. What skills from your coursework or internships do you think will be most valuable in this role?

37. Describe a time you used [industry-specific skill] in a real-world setting.

38. If you were given a project in [specific field], what would your first steps be?

39. What tools, software, or technology have you worked with that are relevant to this role?

40. How do you approach learning a new technical skill or tool?



Company & role interest

41. Why do you want to work for our company?

42. What interests you most about this role?

43. How does our company mission align with your values and goals?

44. What do you know about our industry, and how do you see yourself contributing?

45. If you join our team, what’s one thing you’d be excited to learn or work on?



Future goals & career aspirations

46. Where do you see yourself in three to five years?

47. What’s one skill you hope to develop in your first job?

48. If you could create your ideal career path, what would it look like?

49. What qualities should a work environment have to help you succeed?

50. What does professional growth mean to you, and how do you plan to achieve it?



Meet entry level talent where these job interview questions

Personalizing interview questions for students and new grads helps create a positive candidate experience, while enabling you to assess skills, adaptability, and cultural fit. Gen Z views the recruitment and hiring process as a two-way exchange, so reframing your interview process can make or break your brand with top talent.







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