University & College Reports
Make informed, data-driven decisions to support your students’ career success.
The Brainstorm Student Interests Report is a comprehensive research study that provides an in-depth look at the mindset of Canadian post-secondary students.
In addition to providing data related to students’ career aspirations, job search behaviours, and employer interests, the report gives career, co-op, and WIL offices specific feedback regarding students’ experience using these services on campus.
The Brainstorm Report includes information about students’:
Motivations for choosing post-secondary education
Reasons for choosing their major
Clarity of career paths available through their program of study
Career services usage and expectations
Work term experiences
Job search behaviours and resources
Interest in prospective employers and industries
Views on their school’s commitment to career support
Career goals and aspirations
Skills development
Social media and job search habits
Top sources of stress
Careers planning and its relation to academic success
Job and workplace readiness
Influencers on their career decisions
Preferred career resources and websites
Custom School Report
School subscribers to the survey will receive a custom report comparing their students’ responses to student responses nationally.
They will also receive information about their students’ usage of their career, co-op, and/or WIL offices, including student candid responses to an open-ended question about their overall experiences with their career, co-op, and/or WIL office.
The 2024 Brainstorm Student Interests Report
The 2023 edition of the Brainstorm Student Interests Report was based on a comprehensive national survey of more than 21,000 public university and college students. It was conducted in March through July of 2023.
The 2024 edition is being fielded in January through May 2024.
There is no cost to educational institutions to participate. Schools that assist in promoting the survey to their students and attract at least 200 responses receive a confidential 80+ page custom report of their students' results at NO COST.
Join our school partners and receive your free customized report
Schools wishing to get involved in the 2024 survey can register to participate using the form below.
Jan Basso
Assistant Vice-President, Experiential Learning & Career Development, Wilfrid Laurier University
“At Laurier, we find the results of the Brainstorm survey particularly helpful in informing program planning and our student marketing efforts, in addressing accountability and in communication with employers. Student feedback is important to us and this is a good barometer year over year.”
Cara Krezek
Director, Co-op, Career & Experiential Education, Brock University
“At Brock, we continue to engage in the Brainstorm Student Career Interests Report as it gives us insight into our students and employer partners, what their interests are, what skills are valued and how those interests change year over year so we can make sure our operations reflect the current student and employer needs. In these changing times, it’s more important than ever to have data driven decisions and reports like this allow us to leverage our resources and ensure that we are providing value to our students and our employer partners with good information and insight.”
Alice Michaud
Associate Director, Talent Development & Career Services, Conestoga College
“We have participated in the Brainstorm Student Career Interests Survey annually. From insights about student career goals and workplace readiness to expectations of career services support, the Survey provides timely, reliable Canadian data that helps to inform our services. Understanding the career objectives and employment preferences of our students, particularly within the broader post-secondary context, gives us valuable information that we can leverage to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our students and stakeholders.”
Mary-Anne Moroz
Manager, Career Centre & Employer Partnerships, Gordon S. Lang School of Business & Economics at University of Guelph
“Brainstorm has been an important partner in helping career centres gather data about the changing career needs of both students and employers. The information derived from their annual Student Career Interests Report helps us better focus our efforts and resources to ensure students are career-ready and employers engage with students in meaningful ways.”
Stephanie Hayne Beatty
Director, Careers & Experience, Western University
“Participating in the Brainstorm Career Interests Survey has helped our department in two ways. First, we understand our students better on a variety of measures. This has allowed us to make decisions about our services. Second, the “Weekly” stat helps remind us of key points throughout the year. It has been very worthwhile for us to participate with Brainstorm!”
How to Participate in the 2024 Study
Public post-secondary institutions are eligible to subscribe for a FREE custom report in exchange for assisting in promoting the survey tool to their students.
To be eligible for the custom report, we require a minimum of 200 student responses (this minimum can be lowered for smaller schools or faculties).
To participate in the 2024 research, please complete and submit the subscription details below. We will follow up with you to provide details to share the survey with your students.
We aim to launch the survey in late February 2024 and close it by the end of May 2024. (Schools can promote the survey at any time during this period). The school reports will be distributed in September 2024.
To participate in our 2024 research study, please complete the subscription form. If you have any trouble submitting through this form, please email us at info@brainstorm.ca