The ëno compromiseí graduate

Even in the current economy there are aspects of employment graduates think are too important to compromise on, finds new research ëGraduates into Employmentí conducted by TMP Worldwide. It would be obvious to think that any job is a good job at the moment, however, even with the recession; there are some areas that graduates will not compromise on.

71% say they wonít compromise on training, as this is very important to them.

Over half (52%) of graduates wonít accept a job with poor work-life balance; however 47% would be prepared to in the current market conditions.

A quarter of graduates wonít compromise on accepting less in terms of rotational placements from their employers.

Salary and location, surprisingly, are the areas of compromise.

Lower salaries would be accepted by 68% with 31% sticking to their guns and refusing to accept a lower starting salary.

66% would move to where the jobs are, while 33% say that location is too important to them and would not relocate for a job.

Neil Harrison, Director of Research and Planning at TMP Worldwide, says: ìIn a strong economy, salary and location tend to be key differentiators in employer offerings to graduates. However, with the recession, graduates are more focussed on investment in their own development and will want employers to demonstrate their commitment to training and development. We ask whether organisations are promoting the extent and impact of their training as much as they might?î

One area of compromise is the sectors that graduates will work in. There are clear industry sector winners and losers in this economic climate. The Civil Service and Teaching careers appear far more attractive.

The number of students looking to work in Investment Banking has decreased. Only 4% would be interested in working in this sector, compared to 14% if there were no credit crunch.

Retail appears something of a default option. Just 4% of final year students want to work in the sector, but 14% end up there.

Vocational careers such as law and engineering seem less affected.

Neil Harrison says: ìEmployers need to be aware that graduates could join them although they are not in a sector of choice. Therefore, employers must make sure that people are joining them for the right reasons and that they are not creating a future retention issue.î

There is far more sense of realism about the economy and what it means for graduate jobs than seen in past surveys. There has been a substantial drop in graduate confidence levels about finding a new job. Graduate confidence levels have fallen by approximately 30% since TMPís last research in April. 53% are either not very or not at all confident about finding a job. There is still a degree of optimism for 37% of graduates who feel quite confident about securing a job when they graduate.

However, the headline figure varies – men are comfortably more confident than women (53% as opposed to 42%).

And those attending independent schools are 10% more confident about securing a good graduate job than those from state schools.