44% of undergraduate students* were unable to define the industry they would like to eventually work in once they graduate, statistics from AllAboutCareers.com reveal. The statistic was derived from a sample of over 37,000 undergraduates who are registered on the websites of the AllAboutGroup. Furthermore, in a study of 1,500 school and college students**, 52% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement ‘I have no idea what I want to do with my career.’
As Jack Denton, Co-Founder of AllAboutCareers.com explains, ‘These are worrying statistics that emphasise the need for high quality, free and easy to access careers information for young people.’
Based on these statistics, and after carrying out market research on students about their needs in exploring and understanding their future career, AllAboutCareers.com have responded with an impressive relaunch.
Through a questionnaire of undergraduate students, AllAboutCareers.com discovered that there was demand for a careers information website that contained “detailed information” yet “simplicity” and “an easy layout.” The website then undertook an extensive product development process whereby they gathered input from expert industry boards, as well as an in-house team of skilled editors and designers.
The changes to AllAboutCareers.com include a streamlined three stage process that breaks down user need into distinct streams – explore, search and understand. The first focusses on the common question ‘What can I do?’, and helps users explore their options using a career test and job sector exploration spanning 24 different industries.
The second stream focusses on the demand for searchable jobs in an easy-to-use format, with a jobs board that can filter six types of opportunity, including graduate jobs, internships and apprenticeships, as well as a key that defines how many jobs are live, new and soon to expire.
The third stage centres on the need for uncomplicated careers advice, in order to help students fully understand their options. With a wealth of information in subjects such as work experience, job applications, student essentials and alternatives to university, it is a vital resource.
Feedback from a focus group of undergraduate students has so far been very positive, with Yoyo Hung, a 3rd year law student from the University of Reading explaining ‘AllAboutCareers.com allows me to have a singular hub where I can explore multiple career options and find and apply to relevant job opportunities. I really feel it improves the likelihood of getting a graduate job.’ As Jack Collins, Project Manager at AllAboutCareers.com, explains, ‘We wanted to make sure we truly listened to students and created a website that fit their needs in exploring and understanding their future career. We are thrilled that the new AllAboutCareers.com has provided our valued users with just that, and that we have managed to respond with the go-to website for school leavers, students and graduates in the UK.’
* The statistic was derived from a sample of 37099 undergraduates who are registered on the websites AllAboutCareers.com, AllAboutLaw.co.uk, AllAboutFinanceCareers.com or AllAboutSchoolLeavers.co.uk.
** This statistic is taken from the AllAboutSchoolLeavers.co.uk School & College Leaver Careers Market 2014 Annual Research Report.