A new survey by Axiom Software suggests more than three quarters (79%) of today’s graduates wouldn’t work for a company that has a poor ethical record. Just over half would still be selective in a difficult economic environment, and a similar number would take an ideal job over a higher paying job despite the fact that they have student debts to pay off. Almost two-thirds (65%) of these graduates use their network of friends and family to judge a potential employers’ ethics. Only one fifth (21%) would use what they hear or see in the media to judge the ethics of a company.

The survey of almost 700 students and graduates was carried out through nusonline.co.uk (the website of the National Union of Students). Along with the idealism it also turned up some realism: 51% expected to be made redundant at least once in their lifetime.