THE CHALLENGES FACING GRADUATES SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.

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THE CHALLENGES FACING GRADUATES SEEKING
EMPLOYMENT. Carl Gilleard Chief Executive AGR
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MY TASK

• To outline some of the challenges facing graduate
  job seekers.
• To encourage you to find some solutions.

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BY EMPLOYMENT I MEAN

• Finding a job.
• Building a career.
• Managing a career.
• Coping when

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STUFF HAPPENS!

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THINGS HAVE BEEN WORSE

• 1992 Graduate level vacancies fell by 32 in
  one year
• Between 1990 and 1993, half of all graduate level
  vacancies disappeared

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THEN IN 2008

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GRADUATE VACANCIES IN 2000-2012 IN THE UK.

Figure 1.1 Graduate vacancy changes at AGR
employers 2000 to 2012 (predicted) Percentage
increase or decrease on previous year (varying
bases)
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YET, SHORTFALL
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WHAT IS IT THAT EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR IN GRADUATES?

• Everything
• .. and more!

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A GOOD DEGREE

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SKILLS
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WORK EXPERIENCE
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Experience is not what happens to you its what
you do with what happens to you Aldous Huxley

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PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
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A GOOD APPLICATION.
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IF THAT WASNT ENOUGH...

• Once they get into work graduates need to cope
  with .
• Constant change.
• The only certainty is uncertainty.
• Stuff happening.

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MAJOR DRIVERS OF CHANGE

• Globalisastion.
• Technology.
• Economic shift and uncertainly.
• Environment and sustainability.
• Demography.
• Social values and expectations.

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GRADUATES IN THE 21ST CENTURY WILL HAVE TO.

• Manage uncertainty.
• Sell themselves.
• Set short-term and longer term goals.
• Demonstrate commitment and motivation.
• Keep reinventing themselves.
• Be flexible, adaptable and mobile.
• Develop 21st century work skills.
• Manage their own career.

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EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT.
A Review of Business University
Collaboration. Professor Sir Tim
Wilson Universities are an integral part of
the skills and innovation supply chain to
business.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• Substantive Recommendations
• All students should have a structured
  university-approved internship.
• Re-examine the definition of graduate employment
  and the system of graduate employment and the
  system of data collection.
• Graduate recruiters should review their screening
  algorithms.
• Employers should be encouraged to use the HEAR.
• Careers services and LEPS should establish a
  skills supply chain between universities and
  local businesses.

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REFLECTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

• Universities should reflect on opportunities for
  students to develop their employability skills
  though formal learning and ensure that they can
  articulate the skills they have developed.
• Review whether unpaid internships are ethical.
• Universities not committed to the HEAR should
  review.
• Universities should reflect on how they can
  improve student perceptions of employment with
  SMEs.
• Where should the careers service sit within the
  university?
• Should careers and employability support form
  part of the NSS?

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OVER TO YOU.
Four questions for you to consider