The study surveyed 1,000 individuals across the UK and reveals that 30.1% feel confused by the job hunting process, rising to 59% amongst under 18s. The survey sought to uncover how much candidates know when starting their job search and found that a whopping 64.5% have never been taught how and where to look for a job. Other key findings include:
- 55.6% of candidates have never been taught any interview techniques, though 69.2% of under 18s said they had
- Over half (50.5%) of Brits didn’t receive any support when writing their first CV, with 39.4% revealing that they taught themselves how to write one
- …but, 65.7% said that they would tailor every CV and or cover letter for each job they apply to, rising to 75.9% amongst 18-24 year olds
Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library comments: “Leaving education and entering the world of work can certainly seem daunting for young people if they aren’t prepared. Even the most seasoned professionals will feel nervous about looking for work and attending interviews. As employers, it’s important that we help to support young people as they embark on their job hunt.”
In addition, the study found that just over three-quarters (76%) of individuals aged 24 and under would kick off their job hunt by looking online. Of the 9.6% that said they’d sign up to a recruitment agency, 76.9% of those would do so because they think they’d help them to find a job quickly. What’s more, just under a quarter (23.1%) would use a recruiter to help them negotiate the best salary.
Biggins continues: “Nowadays, most people will start their job hunt online, so it’s important to ensure your vacancies are seen by the right people. With the launch of Google for Jobs in the UK coming very soon, there is a lot of pressure on companies to optimise their job postings by including the correct salary, location, job title and other details to give them better exposure.”
