Association of Graduate Recruiters launches agr Standard

The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) is today launching the agr Standard, the first-ever professional development toolkit for graduate recruiters. It aims to ensure that individuals have the skills and knowledge required when working in graduate recruitment at a practitioner level.

The agr Standard, developed in conjunction with members, is a toolkit based on a series of competencies that define the processes and core activities for graduate recruitment professionals. It is designed to meet the ever-changing needs of the graduate recruitment marketplace so that it can be used by both those working directly in graduate recruitment and those who work for businesses providing services to the sector.

The toolkit can be used in a variety of ways. It can:

Form the basis of a formal development programme for individuals

Act as a guideline for recruitment professionals

Provide a framework for the development of whole teams to enhance their skills and performance in the field of graduate recruitment

Be used as a competency checklist for businesses recruiting practitioners

Building on the success of its long-running Making the Difference induction course and agr Live series, the agr Standard incorporates a Practitioner Development Programme. This consists of a Foundation Event, four half-day Master Class sessions and four one-and-a-half day Training Programmes. These activities provide individuals with the opportunity to learn the key skills that are required by practitioners as well as the theory and principles that underpin best practice in graduate recruitment. Programme participants are allocated a tutor to help them with any queries.

On completion of the Practitioner Development Programme, individuals submit a workbook of evidence to the AGR that includes a record of their development during the programme and demonstrates their ability to perform at practitioner level.

Achieving the Standard takes a minimum of twelve months. However, the Practitioner Development Programme has been put together in a flexible format so that individuals can complete the programme in a timescale that suits them (normally between 12-24 months). The agr Standard is available to organisations that are not members of the association.

Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR, says: ëThe agr Standard is an exciting step for AGR and follows extensive research among our members - a few have been involved in designing and road-testing the Standard. Our agr Live programme has proved very popular with members in the past and we look forward to expanding this within the Practitioner Development Programme to help both new and experienced graduate recruiters to hone their skills and keep up to date with new ideas and best practice.í