What Employers Want from Graduates
Only a third of students graduating from Britain’s top universities expected to start work or seek employment befitting their qualifications in the summer of 2004. That’s according to the latest Graduate Careers Survey by High Fliers Research.
The survey’s director, Martin Birchall, said: “There is widespread feeling…that there are not enough jobs available for new graduates and therefore student confidence in the employment market is extremely low.”
However, the research also found that the average student expects to leave higher education with debts of nearly £10,500. And that means many graduates will be desperate to begin earning a decent wage – and they will be battling it out with each other for that prime position. If you are one of those young jobseekers, you will have to work hard to stand out in the melee of candidates.
Emphasising your skills
The first step on the career ladder is the biggest. The lack of a track record can pose a problem. Faced with writing a CV or filling in an application form, the space to document your experience can seem like a gaping void if you have nothing to write. Solve this dilemma by noting any part-time or temporary work you have had and then concentrate on your transferable skills. Explain that you are applying for your first job and direct the reader to the section detailing your abilities.
Having a degree offers an excellent starting point (young people without one are twice as likely to be unemployed), but prospective employers want much more from their graduate employees. Numerous surveys are carried out to discover what businesses look for in job candidates and the answers are almost always the same. They boil down to six basic skills:
- Communicating
- Team work
- Problem solving
- Using initiative
- Organisation
- Adaptability
Our section on CV and Resume writing offers links to online CV service providers (www.uknetguide.co.uk/Employment/Jobs/CV_Sites.html). We also have links to top career planning and career advice sites (www.uknetguide.co.uk/Employment/Jobs/Information_Sites.html).
Fitting in
Maintaining self-confidence is vital when looking for that first job. You will probably be rejected many times before your receive an offer of a position. But once successful, the first step is to fit in with your colleagues. Employers want team-players who co-operate and form partnerships. What they want even less than a graduate employee who is shy and insecure is one who is arrogant and egotistical.
Having fresh ideas and enthusiasm is one thing – but constantly questioning the status quo or ignoring the advice of experienced co-workers is quite another. Arrogance can also often be interpreted as a sign of insecurity. So talk and make suggestions, but don’t always be the first to do so. Let others get involved and be open to what they show you. Most office rules are flexible to one degree or another, but being good at teamwork and getting on with your fellow members of staff is not negotiable. The responsibility for getting the hang of how to behave at work rests with you. More than likely, you will be closely watched and assessed to see how you cope.
How you dress is important. First impressions count, and your colleagues will inevitably make snap judgements about you based on your appearance. Err on the side of conservative and neutral. You can relax your style once you have been accepted into the fold. However, companies in some industries – media and PR, for example – often have a more casual dress code, so it is wise to ask when accepting a position.
Socialising with new workmates can speed up the process of fitting in, but don’t be too chummy too quickly, or too eager to please. Get a round in, but not the first - and not the last, either.
Search for graduate jobs today and you could find your dream role.
