The KPMG survey found that more than 75 percent of those polled -- over 350 university students involved with programs sponsored by Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), a global non-profit group active on college campuses -- considered job security their top priority when searching for a job as a result of the uncertain economic environment.

In addition, over 50 percent of respondents would be interested in working internationally immediately after graduation, according to the KPMG survey. The survey was conducted at the recent SIFE World Cup held in Berlin.

"The global economic downturn has evidently shifted the way students are thinking about their careers," said Shaun Kelly, vice chair-tax at KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, and current treasurer and executive board member of SIFE. "With many recent graduates still seeking employment, the interest that today’s current students express in employment overseas for their first job shows that they are open to going wherever the opportunities may be. No doubt they also recognize that overseas opportunities can lead to great experience and training necessary for success in today’s global marketplace."

The global economic downturn is also having an impact on students’ views on career path options, the KPMG survey indicates. Some 69 percent said they are now more likely to study for a post-graduate degree than look to get a job immediately after graduation, and most (67 percent) said they were more likely to work for a public or non-profit organization than a corporate business due to the downturn, according to the KPMG survey.

Factors Important to Choosing Employer

According to the KPMG survey, factors most important to students when choosing future employers included:

• Real opportunities to learn new skills and develop themselves personally and professionally;
• Challenging and exciting work; and
• Working with and learning from talented colleagues.

"Students tell us that personal development and enrichment is clearly a top priority when selecting an employer, as is using their business skills to help the communities where they live and work," said Kelly.

"The community involvement, leadership and career initiatives developed by organizations such as SIFE play an important role in helping their participants develop skills that set them apart from the average university student," he added. "Employers that focus on making their organization a great place to work and build a career will likely be more attractive to students seeking their first job."

Other Survey Results

Among other key findings:

• The majority of the respondents (55 percent) said they might stay with their first employer for two-to-four years.
• Facebook is the most regularly used social media platform among university students and also was identified as the social media vehicle they would most likely use when researching information about a future employer.