- Talent Q survey reveals best prospects are for graduates entering utilities, technology and the public sector
- 45% of employers have changed what they look for in recruits in response to recession
A survey of recruiters by people assessment firm, Talent Q, has identified both the hot sectors for graduates seeking employment and which industries are likely to offer the fewest prospects in the current economic environment.
With recent figures from the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), showing that the number of graduate jobs will drop for the first time in six years, the survey provides important guidance to the half a million plus graduates who will be leaving higher education this year.
Talent Q found that, despite the prevailing economic conditions, some 75% of utilities companies are set to increase investment in talent management activities, including graduate recruitment. The majority of respondents from the information technology and communications sector (56%) also said that this would be an area in which they would invest more. However, while public sector organisations were the third hottest sector for graduates (47%), they did comment that sourcing talent externally was likely to be their principal challenge for the coming months.
Maybe predictably, the study indicates that graduates are well advised to consider financial services careers with some caution. HR professionals in this sector reported that they will be spending less in areas such as graduate recruitment this year and over half will instead concentrate on developing their current core ëhigh potentialí group. This sector-wide cut-back on its graduate in-take will contribute to the AGRís prediction that overall vacancies in the UK are set to fall by five per cent.
Dr Alan Bourne, director of Talent Q, said: ìSector-wise it is the utilities and technology sectors that are likely to offer graduates the most potential. Whatís more, over half of respondents within these sectors have stated that they are committed to identifying high performing individuals, despite the external environment.
ìGiven that 45 per cent of the organisations questioned said that, to help them meet the challenges ahead, they had changed what they look for in recruits, graduates must also adapt similarly. For instance, separate research, published recently by Talent Q, showed that the key requirement in 65 per cent of roles is now flexibility and openness to change.î
Alan Bourne concluded: ìSavvy graduate job seekers should take advantage of the current climate by pursuing roles in the relatively more buoyant industry sectors we have identified and by making sure they display the characteristics employers are looking for.î
Hot sectors for graduate job-seekers identified
A survey of recruiters by people assessment firm, Talent Q, has identified both the hot sectors for graduates seeking employment and which industries are likely to offer the fewest prospects in the current economic environment
