New survey from Kloodle reveals 70% feel overwhelmed when it comes to finding their first job
A new survey from Kloodle, a social networking site for student employability and graduate recruitment, reveals the state of panic amongst the UK’s students and graduates when it comes to finding a job. A massive 70% don’t know where to begin and feel overwhelmed by the prospect of job hunting. Only 18% claim to be fully prepared and informed about finding their first job following graduation.
More than half (57%) have found the job search experience challenging and frustrating to frightening and over a quarter (27%) claim trying to find a job has been the most stressful experience to date (more than GCSCEs, A-levels and applying for University). One in three say the pressure of job hunting whilst at university gets in the way of studying for exams.
The survey also sheds light on students’ perceived lack of careers support, with four in 10 students and recent graduates stating that their university careers service has not helped them with a structured career plan and job search campaign. However, 35% of recent graduates admitted to not having engaged with their university’s careers service, suggesting a disconnect between the two stakeholder groups.
Phillip Hayes, CEO and Founder of Kloodle commented: ‘We are finding that many major corporate employers and other large organisations requiring an annual graduate talent intake are keen to have access to and engage with students during their under graduate tenure; in order to showcase their graduate employer proposition and generate graduate talent pipelines up to 2 years in advance of graduation. Those students opting not to consider employment until their final university year may be putting themselves at a significant disadvantage when it comes to securing a graduate level role with ongoing career prospects.
That’s why Kloodle helps students to develop a rounded online profile – people hire people. You may have 340 UCAS points and good degree but are you the right person to fit an organisation? Kloodle takes the stress out of job searching and we know that we are plugging a real gap in the market - half of our respondents would welcome a site where they can interact with potential employers in such a way.’
The community that Kloodle is creating between students, employers and universities is a key method by which students can obtain much of the experience of marketing themselves to potential future employers that students perceive they currently lack. Kloodle’s online, interactive forum encourages students to create their own unique dynamic employability profile, bringing to life their skills and experiences throughout their university education, allowing employers of graduate talent to search the Kloodle site for appropriate student profiles. So when an employer searches for suitable profiles, it will bring all the relevant people to the top of their list and match qualities and attributes much like a modern day dating site.