What makes a good candidate? The preferences of HR Managers about new graduated job-seekers

Information regarding skills that foster employability of University graduates is of particular interest in Italy, where youth unemployment remains high in spite of an increase of tertiary education enrolment. This paper analyzes a survey of human resource managers’ preferred job-seeker characteristics. A conjoint analysis of hypothetical new-graduated job seeker ratings indicates that English language skills, final degree grade, and work experience are the most important attributes of candidate profiles. Age reduces the attractiveness of a candidate, while the difference in preferences between laurea triennale and laurea magistrale is so small as to be offset by two years of work experience. Interactions between firm and vacancy characteristics indicate that gender preferences depend on features of specific jobs.