Graduate Talent Pool - Savvy Approaches to Challenging Conditions

2009 is turning out to be a tough year for new graduates, not only is the job market highly competitive but also fewer companies are running graduate programmes. As a result, this year has become one of the hardest for graduates to get employment.

In an attempt to combat the problem, the Government has launched The Graduate Talent Pool, an initiative to push the benefits of taking a graduate on to UK employers.

The Graduate Talent Pool isn't the only good news. Chantél du Plooy takes a look at the current opportunities available to graduates and talks to a successful recent graduate for advice on how university leavers can broaden their horizons.

The Real Statistics

Due to the down turn in the economy, job losses across the market are not uncommon. The recession has affected young and old; skilled and inexperienced; blue and white collar workers alike.

Not only are new graduates fighting for the best graduate jobs in the market, but they are also battling for places on fewer graduate schemes than in previous years.
According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), graduate unemployment has risen by a third in the past two years.
Although it seems like most companies are cutting back on their graduate schemes, there are still organisations recruiting grads.

A recent survey done by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) revealed that 32.9% of employers plan to increase their target intake of graduates.

Companies offering graduate jobs

Some of the companies who will take on graduates include BT and Lloyd's.

BT, the telecoms and broadband giant, currently employ more than 100,000 staff members and have set aside 130 jobs for university leavers.

Insurance firm Lloyd's is currently in the process of recruiting additional graduates for 2010.

The public and voluntary sectors have also increased recruitment opportunities, with the government offering 5,000 internships.

An interesting trend of late is an array of graduate job prospects within retail.

Supermarkets such as Tesco and Aldi have opened up extremely lucrative management positions for graduates. These positions are made even more attractive by great starting salaries, rapid career advancement and company benefits.

Opting for a job outside your field of study should not be ruled out. It needs to be regarded as an opportunity to grow, learn and excel.

Knowing your options

A post-graduate desperate to work and pay-off his student loan found himself a job as a result of proactive and innovative idea. David Rowe, a 24-year old history graduate dressed in a suit and walked in the Fleet Street area advertising his CV on a sandwich board.

His initiative secured him a job at a recruitment agency that was impressed by his innovation.

Measures like this, as innovative as it might be, aren't for everyone and might not work every time. However, David is commended, and on this occasion rewarded, for his effort.

There are other options available that include a postgraduate degree, working for free to gain experience or starting your own business.

David Bird, senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, told the Guardian: "People are starting to look at what things are going to be like on the other side of this crisis and where the opportunities will be."

"An undergraduate qualification gets you on to the first step, while a postgraduate one can get you to the next stage."

Offering your services for free at a company is an excellent foot in the door for you at no cost to the company. However, there are legal issues around this so make sure you do your research before hand.

The most pioneering of all of the above mentioned options would be to create your own company.

According to Dan Hawes, co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau (GRB), the government is keen to support graduates with entrepreneurial talent but warned: "The business environment at this time is very challenging so graduates will need to consider the financial risk and their minimal business know-how, but with a good idea and plenty of hard work they will succeed," he said.

Knowing where to look

With multiple options made available to graduates, the real trick lies in knowing where to find them and then selecting the one most appropriate to your situation.

Previously graduate recruiters came looking for talented graduates, seeking to pluck them right out of University. Unfortunately, the annual milkround is less popular than it has been in the past.

An example of this is BT, who has been regular milkround participants in recent years. However, Caroline Waters BT Group director told People Management that the company won't be taking part this year, opting to focus on other areas such as online recruitment.

The internet is the place to look, starting with the Graduate Talent Pool.

The Graduate Talent Pool is an effective tool for graduates and employers alike. The site acts as an internship matchmaker between graduate employers posting vacancies and graduates who fulfil their specific criteria.

The site also supplies graduates with practical advice on how to improve their employability through internships, postgraduate study programmes or volunteering.

As an intern, it is important that you contribute towards the company. It is also important that your graduate job provides you with the work experience you need.

Making the best from your graduate position

Emma Cuffaro (25) from Essex completed a BA Honours degree in Business Administration and joined Broadbean Technology in 2005 in a graduate position.

"Early on my role incorporated most of the jobs that no one else had time to do. These included arranging meetings, making tea, ordering stationery and whole lot of filing. I made it my aim to quickly gain an in depth understanding of our products and the industry," she said.

Her positive attitude towards the business got her noticed and promoted to Sales Support Administrator fairly quickly. She then advanced to an Account Manager position and was made Head of Client Services at the age of 23.

Last year Emma won the award for Outstanding Young Person at the Thames Gateway Business Awards.

"The award was for my progression within the company, the achievements I made along the way and changes that I have since implemented within the company.

"All of my achievements would not have been possible without the strong team working behind me."
Emma's advice:

If you have already found an internship or graduate job it is advisable that you do everything in your power to make it count. Keep the following in mind to make the best out of your new found path:

1. Make a good impression: Never be late, always dress and act the part

2. Always try to do better: There is always something you could have done better (could be something really small), acknowledge this and remember for next time

3. Keep learning: You will never know everything so keep learning all the time, be ahead of everyone else

4. Be heard: Don't keep quiet, if you have an opinion express your thoughts and don't worry about getting it wrong. As long as you do this in the right way managers will see this as a positive quality.

5. Believe in what you do: This makes it easy to come to work every day and do your job brilliantly. If you believe in what you do passion, ambition and motivation will come naturally.