Growing fears among recent university graduates over not being able to rely on their degrees alone to secure a job may indeed be justified, according to recent research on the graduate market in 2011.
With graduate vacancies continuing to rise in 2011, employers are sending a clear message that even strong academic performance is not enough to get candidates across the line, unless it is combined with the right skills and experience.
The recent report by High Fliers shows that while academic results may form a benchmark for candidates, employers still look for work experience and employability skills when deciding who to hire. The report reveals that graduates without work experience risk failure during the selection process, with almost two-thirds of recruiters warning that they have ‘little or no chance’ of gaining employment within their organisations.
The need for work experience and employability skills has been the driving force behind recent employer-led initiatives throughout the education and employment sector.
In January, accountancy firm KPMG announced a new scheme to sponsor trainees who study at Durham University. Under the scheme, trainees would divide their time between study and working at the company, increasing their work readiness upon graduation. Concern over employability is also behind proposals by The University of Leicester, UCL, and Durham University to incorporate ‘corporate skills’ as part of university degrees.
Liz Sayce, commissioner at the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, agrees employability skills are imperative: ‘There’s no doubt that qualifications are important, but they can only take you so far. Employers are looking for candidates who can demonstrate good social skills, excellent written and verbal communication, willingness to learn, as well as teamwork and management skills. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at, or what sort of job you want – you ignore these so-called ‘employability’ skills at your peril’.
While the message from employers is undoubtedly alarming news for graduates, WikiJob co-founder, Ed Mellett, reminds candidates that they can still develop these fundamental skills away from the workplace. ‘Graduates who lack work experience don’t necessarily lack these highly sort after ‘employability skills’, he said. ‘The challenge to prospective candidates is to demonstrate how they have utilised these skills during university and in other areas such as volunteer work, campus society involvement, and extracurricular activities’.
In February 2011, WikiJob will be helping students and graduates prepare for the graduate recruitment process, with Student Employability Week. WikiJob will be offering advice and information to students on interview preparation, CV writing, assessment centres and other key preparation areas.
To find out more about WikiJob.co.uk please call co-founders Chris Muktar or Ed Mellett on 0845 625 9454
