Jumping onboard a startup company, for many newly minted college grads, isn't in the works. In fact, a recent study of graduating job-seekers by job-search engine SimplyHired.com, suggests that this year's college graduates are not particularly interested in going to work at a startup.

In the survey, a measly 4 percent listed a startup as their ideal place of employment, which could make it surprisingly difficult for startups to attract top talent.

"When you see hiring taking place in Silicon Valley, there really is a boom going on here," SimplyHired CEO Gautam Godhwani told ReadWriteWeb.com. "So you see a lack of enthusiasm for startups from new grads is not something we expected."

The study shows that college graduates want job security. Some 33 percent listed that as their top priority, above salary (23%) and benefits (23%).

Perhaps the popular notion that young people today are more entrepreneurial has been stymied by the class of 2012, which entered college at the peak of the recession-and they may have been deterred from risky ventures.

"While startups offer a culture that new graduates might enjoy, such as flexible hours and casual dress, this graduating class is looking for stability over perks," says Godhwani. "And it's no mystery why. Over the last four years, while they've been working on their bachelor's degree, they've watched their friends and family struggle in the job market. The economy has been tough and the class of 2012 had a front-row-seat to witness it all happen."

Godhwani says the best way startups can attract employees is to get funding.

"A recruiter at a popular technology startup described a recent successful hire that was a new college graduate with little work experience. The thing that stood out? His leadership of his college comedy improv group, and several comedy training workshops he had attended each summer. The recruiter recognized the candidate's longtime commitment to a passion and desire to learn and grow within the specialization, which proved successful for the employee now in a client services position."

Source: Newswire; ReadWriteWeb