Graduate Employment

 

The latest research from the OECD says graduates earn on average 65% more than their peers who have only secondary education. Other surveys, such as Futuretrack, also suggest that graduates are maintaining a significant salary advantage. However, it is increasingly important that you make the degree and university experience work for you. Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, says; “Even if you go to a university that’s at the top of the league tables, you’re not going to land a job just because you went there. Getting a good degree is important, but the degree is the key that opens the door, it doesn’t take you through it.” He said that what you do outside your course is as important as your academic work. “Don’t just join clubs or societies, become a treasurer, a secretary or a team captain. You’ll gain qualities that make you stand out.”

 

Mike Hill, chief executive of career advisory body Graduate Prospects, said; “What’s the world going to look like when you graduate? Frankly, I don’t know. But there are certain things we can be sure of, we’ll need doctors, lawyers, nurses and teachers, so vocational degrees are always likely to pay a dividend at the end. But we can’t predict whether there will be lots of jobs or a shortage of them.” He stressed the importance of work experience, whether in the form of a structured internship, a part-time job or a holiday placement, noting that:  “You don’t have to get an internship with a top London bank, it can be at a local solicitor’s office, for example and it doesn’t have to be during your holidays. If you have a job at a supermarket, or behind a bar, the skills you gain can be impressive. Have you worked in a team? Have you handled money? Have you had to deal with challenges? It’s all a learning experience and it all counts.”

 

Trend-spotting is inexact, but according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), the UK is set for a science and technology boom, with the sector accounting for around a quarter of all new jobs by 2016/17. CEBR economist Daniel Solomon says: “Growth for the STEM industries has held up better than for non-STEM occupations, and I think it’s a robust prediction. It’s very encouraging for those seeking employment after doing STEM degrees.”

Source: Gordon Collins 'GTA Careers Newsletter'