NHS and the City - Financial and public sector careers appeal to graduates

Todayís career-hungry graduates have named PriceWaterhouseCoopers as their dream employer, according to this yearís total graduates poll by totaljobs.com, one of the UKís leading recruitment websites. Accenture came a close second in the annual poll of graduates.


Hot on their heels is the NHS, which has shot up a staggering eight places from last year, suggesting that the public sector has shaken off its outdated image and is appealing to this yearís graduates.

Supermarkets have also fared well this year with Tesco and Asda entering the top ten for the first time indicating that their brand-building work has paid off. However, the BBC has dropped five places from last year suggesting that the recent redundancies at the BBC and relocation of offices have discouraged this yearís graduates.

Yearly total graduates poll on the top 10 most popular UK graduate employers

2005

1. PriceWaterhouseCoopers

2. Accenture

3. NHS

4. HSBC

5. Shell

6. Tesco

7. Asda

8. BBC

9. Unilever

10. Marks and Spencer

And it seems that itís location, location, location for jobseekers when it comes to choosing an employer. A staggering eighty three per cent of jobseekers rate the location of the organisation as important. Having a say is also key for todayís jobseekers with seventy per cent wanting to be consulted on changes within the company.

When it comes to choosing a job, having a structured career development program within the organisation is very important for sixty four per cent of jobseekers. Unsurprisingly, a good work/life balance is also very important for fifty eight per cent of jobseekers. Interestingly, women are also keen to have a good line manager whereas men are more concerned that they find the job interesting so that work will be more like a hobby.

Todayís graduates are clear on what they look for in an employer and job, says Michelle Perry, head of recruiter marketing, totaljobs.com. Employers must take on board the opinions of graduates when it comes to what they want from an employer and job if they are to attract the cream of the crop.

Michelle Perry continued; With the majority of graduates having Internet access employers can increase their appeal to graduates by advertising online. This is particularly true if they focus on building a careers channel on their website, where graduates are able to plan a career within the organisation. The opportunities to brand online are extensive and allow companies to promote the benefits of working for their organisation using a variety of channels, thus giving advertisers the edge over their competitors.

Karen Smith, manager of the graduate division of Graduate Appointments Ltd - the longest established graduate recruitment agency in London - added; The location of companies is becoming increasingly important for todayís graduates. However, employers need to ensure that they offer graduates a clear career path otherwise they risk losing them to their competitors. It is great to see such a diverse list of companies appealing to this yearís graduates. However, in todayís competitive graduate market, work experience is key if graduates are to stand out from their peers and get their dream job.