Graduates have ranked training and development over salary when selecting their first employer, an Ernst & Young survey has revealed.

The online poll, which registered over 1,000 votes, showed that nearly half (44%) of graduates view a company’s provision of training and development as the most important consideration when weighing up a potential employer.

Other options for the students to vote on were as follows: salary & benefits (18%), work/life balance (16%), business reputation (12%), people & culture (8%), and ethical and environmental reputation (3%).

Stephen Isherwood, head of graduate recruitment at Ernst & Young, said: 'Despite the many concerns students have when thinking about their future employer, it is still critically important for many of them that their new job offers them opportunities to learn, and to develop their own careers.'

Further reading:

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Moving forward: talent at war