Y2M, a strategic marketing services company focused on the college and recent graduate market, surveyed 1,500 young people who had just finished college. Asked what they would include on a Website for college graduates, over 80% of respondents said that a career center was "somewhat" or "very" important. This compares to 70% who said a financial center was important, 53% who cited a network to stay in touch, and 50% who wanted free e-mail forwarding.
The new alumni have good reason to focus on finding a job. Undoubtedly, many are excited to start a career and to work in a field they find interesting, but financial pressures play a part. Over two-thirds of respondents said they have 1 to 4 student loans to repay, and another 43% plan to take more loans on in the next 3 to 5 years. At least one-third have over $20,000 to pay off.
Almost 70% of respondents said they had posted their resume on the Internet in the past year, with 62% of that group using Monster.com, 49% using CareerBuilder.com and 31% using HotJobs.
To get the full picture of college-aged Internet users, read eMarketer's College Students Online: Social Networks and the Net Generation report.