• 53% of graduates are feeling optimistic about their future career prospects
• 37% of respondents claim the media has left them feeling unable to get a job
• The use of smartphones for job searching has risen from 20% in 2012 to 33% in 2013
Following on from their Career Confidence Breakfast event which took place earlier this month - Graduate recruitment website – Milkround have published their second, exclusive annual Student and Graduate Career Confidence Report today.
In February and March 2013 Milkround sent out their annual Student and Graduate Career Confidence Survey to their database. The survey collected views of over 2,000 students and graduates on a range of topics including where they get their career inspiration from, how media reports affect them and whether they are optimistic or pessimistic towards the economy, university fees and job opportunities. This research has formed the basis for their annual Career Confidence Report.
This year’s report is particularly interesting as it’s the first time that a year on year comparison has been made on the career confidence of students and graduates with some surprising similarities and shifts in opinion.
It was reported that 53% of graduates are feeling optimistic about their future career prospects. There was some pessimism around the subject of getting a graduate job after university, with only 31% feeling positive, however there was much more optimism (56%) around getting any job once they have completed their degrees.
When asked what would make them feel more confident in their future job prospects – 55% reported that a qualification from a professional body would be the most effective, 52% stated a career mentor would build their confidence and 47% cited that regular meetings with a career advisor would be advantageous.
71% of all respondents reported that their main concern about finding a graduate job is the level of competition which was a 2% year on year increase. Other main concerns were attributed to there being too few graduate jobs available, along with concerns surrounding a lack of relevant experience.
Milkround asked respondents to name one word which best describes how they are feeling about their current career prospects - a huge 36% stated that they are “Worried”. This was three times the amount of the next most popular words with 12% reporting they were feeling “cautious” or “depressed”.
The report goes on to break down the demographics by first year, mid-term, finalists and graduates - gaging their feelings towards a number of factors including their career prospects, salary and the economy. Not only are we presented with their current opinions but we also get an insight into how respondents predict they will be feeling about these particular topics in six months’ time. The general consensus was that students and graduates would begin to feel more positive about these topics in time.
What is strikingly clear from the research is the negative influence in which the media continues to play in student and graduate career confidence, with 37% of respondents claiming it has left them feeling unable to get a job.
This year the report also collected responses with regards to what devices students and graduates are using to search for graduate jobs. Respondents using a smartphone for their job search have risen from 20% in 2012 to 33% in 2013. The use of tablets also grew from 3% in 2012 to 17% in 2013.
Milkround spokesperson Simon Pullin said: “It’s clear that students and graduates need support from recruiters to reassure them that graduate jobs are available, this can only be achieved by providing relevant and accessible information through the channels which they are most comfortable in using. Our survey indicates that advertising on graduate job sites which are compatible with Mobile and tablet is the most effective way of promoting vacancies to this demographic. Job searching via smartphone and tablet is clearly on the rise as a young tech-savvy audience aim to fit their graduate job search into their busy lifestyle.”
Simon added “The career confidence of students and graduates has taken a hit, but there is optimism that the situation will improve with a little time, some work experience and a professional qualification.”
You can find Milkround’s full Career Confidence Report HERE.
