Almost all students are prepared to work unpaid or take minimum wage positions to secure a graduate job, according to a national survey.
Half of university students are willing to work for free to kickstart their career, while 40% said they would take a minimum wage position, according to research carried out by studentbeans.com.
The findings follow news of rising unemployment among graduates.
Figures released today by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) reveal more than 20,000 students – around one in 10 – who left university last summer were out of work six months later. This figure has almost doubled in the past four years, as has the number of graduates in "elementary occupations."
The NUS is calling for government action to prevent exploitation of graduates, saying pressure to complete unpaid work puts those from poor families on the back foot.
Danielle Grufferty, NUS vice-president, says graduates entering a hostile jobs market must be protected by the law: "Unpaid labour is illegal and the government must enforce minimum wage legislation."
"Working for free is only a possibility for those who have the means to support themselves financially, with no guarantee of a job or even an experience that will help them in future."
Ben Lyons, from Intern Aware, added that the new phenomenon of unpaid work is a short-sighted business practice. "As well as pricing out smart, hardworking young people, it's bad for businesses who lose out on talent, and risk the consequences of being in breach of employment law."
The number of graduate vacancies dropped by 1.7% last year, according to a survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters. It predicts the average starting salary for graduates employed by blue chip companies will increase by 4% to £26,000 this year.
But most students' salary expectations remain modest, with more than half predicting they will earn less than £20k in their first graduate position.
Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, says internships can help graduates boost their job applications but that they're not the only way to stand out.
"You don't necessarily need to take on a full three-month internship. All workplace experience is useful in terms of boosting your confidence, helping you decide on your career objectives, and helping you gain transferable skills.
"Employers and recruiters today are looking for 'soft skills' such as communication skills, the ability to work in a team, and good time management."
Source: Rebecca Ratcliffe, Guardian.co.uk, Friday 29th June 2012
Jobsbody provides a dynamic forum in which businesses can view and connect with graduates.
Saturday 30 June 2012
Friday 29 June 2012
Number of graduates in basic jobs doubles in five years
The number of new UK graduates working in jobs like cleaning or bar work has almost doubled to 10,000 in five years, according to government statistics.
The figures, from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, also showed more than 20,000 were still out of work six months after leaving university.
Overall the data showed 71% in work and a further 16% in continued study.
Universities Minister David Willetts said graduates were still doing better than people without degrees.
The figures showed 9% of new graduates were jobless six months after completing their degree in 2010/11.
This was the same proportion as the year before but almost double that for 2006/7 when the figure stood at 5%.
A further 5% were working in jobs such as labourer, courier, office junior, hospital porter, waiter/waitress, bar worker, cleaner or road sweeper - up from 3% five years ago.
The figures also showed a continuing rise in the numbers employed in sales and customer-service roles, such as sales assistant, market trader or call-centre staff - 20,675 (10%) of new graduates worked in these areas last year, a rise of more than 1,000 on the year before and up from 12,740 five years ago.
The figures showed the largest group, more than 47,000 people (23%), went into "associate professional and technical jobs", as nurses, paramedics, interpreters or laboratory technicians.Graduates diversifying
Just over 10,000 (5%) went into management and just under 37,000 (17%) entered professions like law and medicine.
A separate survey of 1,000 students for the high street chain, Aldi, suggested only a quarter of UK undergraduates expect to gain a job in their field of study.
A further 39% of students questioned by One Poll said they were prepared to start at the bottom of the career ladder, despite training for a particular vocation for three years or more.
Most (71%) said they intended to apply for a wide range of jobs and 58% said they were prepared to work for a yearly wage of less than £20,000.
The general secretary of the University and College Union, Sally Hunt, said: "Today's figures are further bad news for students.
"People working hard at university face an incredibly challenging jobs market when they graduate and the government should be doing more to stimulate jobs and growth."
Anne-Marie Martin, president of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, said students should be aware of changes in the jobs market which meant fewer opportunities for graduates in public services.
"These are challenging times for graduates, but there are jobs available.
"Be flexible. Have a plan B. There are fantastic opportunities with smaller companies but they don't have the huge marketing budgets of the big employers, and so you need to be creative about your job search."
Mr Willetts said: "Although the unemployment market is challenging, graduates continue to do better than non-graduates and their prospects tend to pick up more quickly during a recovery.
"We must ensure that graduates enter the labour market equipped to succeed.
"The Higher Education White Paper outlines proposals that will deliver a greater focus on graduate employability.
"Universities will need to publish high-quality comparable information on employment rates and future salaries of graduates by university and by course.
"We will also improve the regime for sandwich courses and promote a new framework for business and universities to work together to ensure a better fit between graduates and jobs."
Source: Judith Burns, BBC.co.uk, Thursday 28th June 2012
The figures, from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, also showed more than 20,000 were still out of work six months after leaving university.
Overall the data showed 71% in work and a further 16% in continued study.
Universities Minister David Willetts said graduates were still doing better than people without degrees.
The figures showed 9% of new graduates were jobless six months after completing their degree in 2010/11.
This was the same proportion as the year before but almost double that for 2006/7 when the figure stood at 5%.
A further 5% were working in jobs such as labourer, courier, office junior, hospital porter, waiter/waitress, bar worker, cleaner or road sweeper - up from 3% five years ago.
The figures also showed a continuing rise in the numbers employed in sales and customer-service roles, such as sales assistant, market trader or call-centre staff - 20,675 (10%) of new graduates worked in these areas last year, a rise of more than 1,000 on the year before and up from 12,740 five years ago.
The figures showed the largest group, more than 47,000 people (23%), went into "associate professional and technical jobs", as nurses, paramedics, interpreters or laboratory technicians.Graduates diversifying
Just over 10,000 (5%) went into management and just under 37,000 (17%) entered professions like law and medicine.
A separate survey of 1,000 students for the high street chain, Aldi, suggested only a quarter of UK undergraduates expect to gain a job in their field of study.
A further 39% of students questioned by One Poll said they were prepared to start at the bottom of the career ladder, despite training for a particular vocation for three years or more.
Most (71%) said they intended to apply for a wide range of jobs and 58% said they were prepared to work for a yearly wage of less than £20,000.
The general secretary of the University and College Union, Sally Hunt, said: "Today's figures are further bad news for students.
"People working hard at university face an incredibly challenging jobs market when they graduate and the government should be doing more to stimulate jobs and growth."
Anne-Marie Martin, president of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, said students should be aware of changes in the jobs market which meant fewer opportunities for graduates in public services.
"These are challenging times for graduates, but there are jobs available.
"Be flexible. Have a plan B. There are fantastic opportunities with smaller companies but they don't have the huge marketing budgets of the big employers, and so you need to be creative about your job search."
Mr Willetts said: "Although the unemployment market is challenging, graduates continue to do better than non-graduates and their prospects tend to pick up more quickly during a recovery.
"We must ensure that graduates enter the labour market equipped to succeed.
"The Higher Education White Paper outlines proposals that will deliver a greater focus on graduate employability.
"Universities will need to publish high-quality comparable information on employment rates and future salaries of graduates by university and by course.
"We will also improve the regime for sandwich courses and promote a new framework for business and universities to work together to ensure a better fit between graduates and jobs."
Source: Judith Burns, BBC.co.uk, Thursday 28th June 2012
Thursday 28 June 2012
100% success for property firm DTZ as its graduates get chartered
If you’re considering applying for graduate jobs with property services company DTZ, you might be interested to know that all of their graduates who sat their assessment of professional competence (APC) in the most recent sitting passed. They can now call themselves chartered surveyors and put the letters MRICS after their name.
The APC is the assessment process that employed graduate surveyors must undergo in order to gain chartership with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors – an internationally recognised qualification that testifies to your professional expertise and boosts your earning potential. The process includes providing evidence of your competence, submitting an essay and sitting an interview. The interview is known for its rigour.
DTZ’s Laura Kaufman, Mark Penfold and Nick Franks – based in London – and Nick Ogden – in Manchester – passed the commercial surveying pathway. Kris Britland, also employed in London, completed the building surveying pathway.
Training & development: a key factor for students when choosing employers to apply to
The pass rate of the APC is one way in which candidates can judge the quality of training and development at property firms. The 2011 Guardian UK 300 publication – which ranks students’ top employers across different sectors – indicates that training and development is an important consideration among students interested in property careers. ‘A solid start to my career’, ‘good professional and career development’ and ‘known for their training and development’ were the first, fourth and fifth most popular answers given by students about what attracts them to an employer. The other reasons given were to do with the firm’s standing within the industry: ‘because they are successful at what they do’, ‘a reputation for excellence’ and ‘because they have good products or services’ were the second, third and sixth answers.
Source: Targetjobs.co.uk, Wednesday 27th June 2012
The APC is the assessment process that employed graduate surveyors must undergo in order to gain chartership with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors – an internationally recognised qualification that testifies to your professional expertise and boosts your earning potential. The process includes providing evidence of your competence, submitting an essay and sitting an interview. The interview is known for its rigour.
DTZ’s Laura Kaufman, Mark Penfold and Nick Franks – based in London – and Nick Ogden – in Manchester – passed the commercial surveying pathway. Kris Britland, also employed in London, completed the building surveying pathway.
Training & development: a key factor for students when choosing employers to apply to
The pass rate of the APC is one way in which candidates can judge the quality of training and development at property firms. The 2011 Guardian UK 300 publication – which ranks students’ top employers across different sectors – indicates that training and development is an important consideration among students interested in property careers. ‘A solid start to my career’, ‘good professional and career development’ and ‘known for their training and development’ were the first, fourth and fifth most popular answers given by students about what attracts them to an employer. The other reasons given were to do with the firm’s standing within the industry: ‘because they are successful at what they do’, ‘a reputation for excellence’ and ‘because they have good products or services’ were the second, third and sixth answers.
Source: Targetjobs.co.uk, Wednesday 27th June 2012
Wednesday 27 June 2012
Graduates still facing a tough graduate job market
Almost one in two employers are not looking to recruit graduates this summer.
Finding a job is expected to be a challenge for the graduates of 2012 according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Many of these graduates started university in 2009 and could face the largest unemployment crisis of the current double-dip recession.
The recent survey undertaken by the CIPD which looked at different graduate employers, found that around 50% of them have stopped their plans to recruit school leavers or graduates this summer.
"It is going to be a long summer for many of this year's graduates and school leavers. Employers have for a long time had doubts about the employability of those leaving education,” said Gerwyn Davies, public policy adviser at the CIPD, commenting on the poll conclusions.
“This year's crop face employers in a more choosy mood than ever before. Against this backdrop, graduates and school leavers need to sharpen their case for being picked ahead of their classmates – and fast," added Davies.
A recent IT job with m-hance for graduate schemes in management, consulting, finance, marketing, support and sales has had around 1,200 applications for around 6 vacancies. Many graduate employers are faced with a high volume of applications, and the average applications per graduate jobs can be seen to reach 100 for each role.
Source: Pareto.co.uk, Tuesday 26th June 2012
Finding a job is expected to be a challenge for the graduates of 2012 according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Many of these graduates started university in 2009 and could face the largest unemployment crisis of the current double-dip recession.
The recent survey undertaken by the CIPD which looked at different graduate employers, found that around 50% of them have stopped their plans to recruit school leavers or graduates this summer.
"It is going to be a long summer for many of this year's graduates and school leavers. Employers have for a long time had doubts about the employability of those leaving education,” said Gerwyn Davies, public policy adviser at the CIPD, commenting on the poll conclusions.
“This year's crop face employers in a more choosy mood than ever before. Against this backdrop, graduates and school leavers need to sharpen their case for being picked ahead of their classmates – and fast," added Davies.
A recent IT job with m-hance for graduate schemes in management, consulting, finance, marketing, support and sales has had around 1,200 applications for around 6 vacancies. Many graduate employers are faced with a high volume of applications, and the average applications per graduate jobs can be seen to reach 100 for each role.
Source: Pareto.co.uk, Tuesday 26th June 2012
Tuesday 26 June 2012
Who will be crowned 2012 Graduate of the Year? You decide!
Over the last month we’ve been accepting applications to our Graduate of the Year 2012 competition and we’ve been overwhelmed by the impressive calibre of applicants from every facet of university life; from academics to sporting champions, from scientists to entrepreneurs. Now it’s your chance to help us pick the most impressive grad (who by the way will be awarded a cash prize, a juicy London internship and loads more!). Without further ado, meet our 5 brilliant finalists:
Name: Leo Anthias
Age: 22 years old
University: University of St Andrews
Category: Entrepreneur
Superpowers: He can build an incredible barbecue out of bricks, he is scared of sharks and aspires to run a successful start-up and believes he can unite the traditional past of the existing mercantile industry into something new, unique and successful.
One Liner: Leo is the unusual mix of an entrepreneurial techie and professional wine-taster: whilst studying English & Modern History at St Andrews he built ‘Stiff Collar’, a vintage clothing company, and managed to win the title of best student wine taster in Scotland; next year, he’s jumping into the London tech scene and starting a company through the prestigious Number 10-backed Entrepreneur First scheme.
Name: Peter Weller
Age: 22 years old
University: Aberystwyth University
Category: Academic
Superpowers: Peter has overcome the challenge of being 80-90% deaf since he was 3. More importantly he is a very talented software developer, known for being nothing short of outstanding even though he once tried to be a matador to a moving car (unsurprisingly he lost!). He bagged Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities for the academic year starting in 2011 and landed 1 out of 16 available places at Extreme Blue; a summer placement at IBM.
One Liner: “Using technology to make the world a better place!”
Name: Sophie Potter
Age: 22 years old
University: University of Warwick
Academic: Social
Superpowers: Sophie believes you are responsible for exposing yourself to as many experiences in life as possible made evident by the fact she completed a year abroad in Italy. Specific encounters out there with a feisty Italian landlord have inspired her to start her own business. She believes ‘go-getters’ in life will learn more than you can from any lecture or text book which explains her attitude towards life and careers.
One Liner: “I am a highly-motivated, creative and adventurous undergraduate, heavily involved in the improvement of internationalisation and cultural integration at my university, who believes that giving to others is what will bring me happiness and success, and who is planning a career in social entrepreneurship in Europe.”
Name: Oriance Lungu
Age:
University: University College London
Category: Sportsperson
Superpowers: Oriance describes herself as a dreamer but she has managed to make every dream a reality. She has managed to hold the role of treasurer of Imperial College Women’s Football Club, teach and compete in kickboxing and compete in her first boxing tournament while studying for her degree.
One Liner: Simply dreaming is not enough, it also takes hard work and discipline to achieve your dreams and I believe when my friends describe me as a ‘dreamer’ they actually mean ‘ambitious and driven’.
Please show your support for the finalist you believe should be crowned Graduate of the Year. Get your family, friends, classmates and even your crazy neighbour down the road involved! Voting close on the 30th June at midnight, so get your votes in now!
GOOD LUCK.
Source: Adzuna.co.uk, Tuesday 12th June 2012
Monday 25 June 2012
Congratulations to graduating New Holland technicians
There were celebrations as a fresh group of apprentices graduated this month from New Holland’s special three-year course to equip its dedicated team with the latest knowledge and skills.
Twenty-three graduates will return to their New Holland dealerships with a BTEC National Diploma in Land-based Technology after completing their training at Reaseheath College in Cheshire.
The specialist, semi-residential course is partly funded and run by New Holland, and involves an extra five modules specific to its range of tractors and harvesting machinery, such as hydraulics, diagnostics and electronics.
Students hail from dealerships around the country: as far afield as Aberdeenshire in Scotland, Wrexham in Wales and Cheltenham in England.
They were presented with certificates by New Holland’s After-Sales Commercial Manager, Rob Alker, at a ceremony at the college on Tuesday May 29th.
He said: “Congratulations to all the trainees who have worked so hard to complete this challenging course. It’s a pleasure to present the certificates, and their new skills will only strengthen the quality of our After Sales service even further.
“Their dedication to learning new things and pushing themselves to achieve the very best results is a reflection of how New Holland demands that, wherever possible, the company goes that extra mile for its end users.
“Their careers will benefit immensely from what they have learned during their time here and I have no doubt their new-found knowledge and expertise will be fully appreciated by grateful customers – which is one of the reasons so many stay loyal to our brand.”
Every graduate is also qualified to apply for LTA status (Land-based Technician Accreditation) at Level 2, which is a professionally recognised scheme run by the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) in conjunction with major agricultural equipment manufacturers.
Tim Ball, from Reaseheath College, has the job of liaising with New Holland, the dealerships and the college itself, where the course has been run since 2002.
He said: “The performance of all has been extremely good and the success rate 100 per cent. There have been some high achievement grades throughout the group. The apprentices themselves are very happy with the time they have spent here.
“It creates a good, sound education and knowledge of the fundamentals, and the additional inputs of the manufacturers just raises the guys to a different level and sets them up nicely for their future careers.”
One of the dealerships taking part was Francis Bugler’s branch in Beaminster, Dorset. Managing Director John Bugler said: “I’m really pleased with Luke and he’s improved his career prospects with his hard work.
“The course has definitely raised the profile of the agricultural service engineer and given it the recognition it deserves.
“It is an improvement on the traditional college training that tended to be too general to meet a New Holland dealer’s specific requirements – the Dealer University is more focussed on what we need and at a high standard too.”
Another dealership was Ravenhill, which sent a trainee from its outlet in Maud, Aberdeenshire. Service Manager Norman Thomson said: “Matthew really has enjoyed it, particularly the New Holland side of it.
“He’s really enthusiastic at work and will definitely benefit from the extra skills, giving him a much better chance of promotion.”
For more information on the New Holland apprentice training scheme, contact your local New Holland dealership.
Source: Farminguk.com, Wednesday 20th June 2012
Twenty-three graduates will return to their New Holland dealerships with a BTEC National Diploma in Land-based Technology after completing their training at Reaseheath College in Cheshire.
The specialist, semi-residential course is partly funded and run by New Holland, and involves an extra five modules specific to its range of tractors and harvesting machinery, such as hydraulics, diagnostics and electronics.
Students hail from dealerships around the country: as far afield as Aberdeenshire in Scotland, Wrexham in Wales and Cheltenham in England.
They were presented with certificates by New Holland’s After-Sales Commercial Manager, Rob Alker, at a ceremony at the college on Tuesday May 29th.
He said: “Congratulations to all the trainees who have worked so hard to complete this challenging course. It’s a pleasure to present the certificates, and their new skills will only strengthen the quality of our After Sales service even further.
“Their dedication to learning new things and pushing themselves to achieve the very best results is a reflection of how New Holland demands that, wherever possible, the company goes that extra mile for its end users.
“Their careers will benefit immensely from what they have learned during their time here and I have no doubt their new-found knowledge and expertise will be fully appreciated by grateful customers – which is one of the reasons so many stay loyal to our brand.”
Every graduate is also qualified to apply for LTA status (Land-based Technician Accreditation) at Level 2, which is a professionally recognised scheme run by the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) in conjunction with major agricultural equipment manufacturers.
Tim Ball, from Reaseheath College, has the job of liaising with New Holland, the dealerships and the college itself, where the course has been run since 2002.
He said: “The performance of all has been extremely good and the success rate 100 per cent. There have been some high achievement grades throughout the group. The apprentices themselves are very happy with the time they have spent here.
“It creates a good, sound education and knowledge of the fundamentals, and the additional inputs of the manufacturers just raises the guys to a different level and sets them up nicely for their future careers.”
One of the dealerships taking part was Francis Bugler’s branch in Beaminster, Dorset. Managing Director John Bugler said: “I’m really pleased with Luke and he’s improved his career prospects with his hard work.
“The course has definitely raised the profile of the agricultural service engineer and given it the recognition it deserves.
“It is an improvement on the traditional college training that tended to be too general to meet a New Holland dealer’s specific requirements – the Dealer University is more focussed on what we need and at a high standard too.”
Another dealership was Ravenhill, which sent a trainee from its outlet in Maud, Aberdeenshire. Service Manager Norman Thomson said: “Matthew really has enjoyed it, particularly the New Holland side of it.
“He’s really enthusiastic at work and will definitely benefit from the extra skills, giving him a much better chance of promotion.”
For more information on the New Holland apprentice training scheme, contact your local New Holland dealership.
Source: Farminguk.com, Wednesday 20th June 2012
Sunday 24 June 2012
Britain warned by industry leaders of job losses over skill levels
Industry leaders warning graduates that new jobs will go to other countries if there is a lack of skilled workers in Britain.
The University and College Union (UCU) has urged the government to invest more in higher education to provide jobs growth and help get the country out of a double dip recession.
There is a danger that unless the UK produces more highly-skilled workers then there is a risk many of the jobs available to graduates will be given to workers from abroad. The UCU is also concerned about the amount of applicants to university having decreased by 7.7%.
A recent study by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that the cost to the government of someone studying three A levels and a degree is £25,000, but the over the course of their life that graduate will pay back on average £227,000 to the Exchequer. The increase of tuition fees for university and the scrapping of Education Maintenance Allowance means’ many students are put off higher education or find it difficult to attend.
The UCU pointed out that to provide the best graduates, the government needs to step up their investment into education. Currently the UK invests just 1.7% of public expenditure on tertiary education, compared to 2.3% in France, 2.8% in Germany and 3.2% in the USA.
The UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: "With 80% of new jobs by 2020 likely to be professional or technical, the UK must invest now in the next generation or risk losing out in the race for economic growth.
"This research highlights the folly of reducing public investment in our colleges and universities.
"Instead of cutting places and making it more expensive to study, ministers need a strategy which harnesses further and higher education to provide a window of opportunity for the next generation."
Source: Pareto.co.uk, Saturday 23rd June 2012
The University and College Union (UCU) has urged the government to invest more in higher education to provide jobs growth and help get the country out of a double dip recession.
There is a danger that unless the UK produces more highly-skilled workers then there is a risk many of the jobs available to graduates will be given to workers from abroad. The UCU is also concerned about the amount of applicants to university having decreased by 7.7%.
A recent study by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that the cost to the government of someone studying three A levels and a degree is £25,000, but the over the course of their life that graduate will pay back on average £227,000 to the Exchequer. The increase of tuition fees for university and the scrapping of Education Maintenance Allowance means’ many students are put off higher education or find it difficult to attend.
The UCU pointed out that to provide the best graduates, the government needs to step up their investment into education. Currently the UK invests just 1.7% of public expenditure on tertiary education, compared to 2.3% in France, 2.8% in Germany and 3.2% in the USA.
The UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: "With 80% of new jobs by 2020 likely to be professional or technical, the UK must invest now in the next generation or risk losing out in the race for economic growth.
"This research highlights the folly of reducing public investment in our colleges and universities.
"Instead of cutting places and making it more expensive to study, ministers need a strategy which harnesses further and higher education to provide a window of opportunity for the next generation."
Source: Pareto.co.uk, Saturday 23rd June 2012
Saturday 23 June 2012
Graduates - Will you be found out if you lie on your CV?
When Neil Wilson* applied to a retail banking chain for a job not long after graduation, he beefed up his CV by 'creating' relevant work experience he had not actually done.
'I thought I'd better show that I had worked in a bank before, so I put down that I'd done a month's unpaid work in a local branch where I grew up. That branch had closed, anyway, so I knew they'd never be able to check'.
Wilson didn't get the job, but does not believe the fabrication on his CV was the reason. 'There's no way they could have found out, and when I asked for feedback they said it was because they had been inundated with applications from high-calibre graduates. I would consider doing it again in similar circumstances', he admits.
Higher university fees and a difficult jobs market could make 'education fraud' such as this more widespread, according to Graduate Prospects. It surveyed 1,306 students and graduates in May 2012 and found that close to half (43%) said the rise in tuition fees would make graduates more likely to lie on CVs and only a third disagreed outright. Two-thirds (68%) reported that buying a fake degree would be more tempting, while less than a quarter disagreed.
The majority of those surveyed admitted that they knew it was illegal to give misinformation on CVs, but a third said they knew someone who has lied or exaggerated about their qualifications on their CV. The most common lies were: giving a higher grade than they had actually achieved (47%); claiming they had completed a course when they only finished part of it (29%); offering a different course subject to suit the job requirements (13%); and saying they have a degree when they don't (11%).
Telling porkies on one's CV is enough of a concern for the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills to partner with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and Universities UK to launch an online service that allows employers to check candidates' qualifications.
The Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD) claims to already have all 165 publicly-funded universities and colleges in the UK on board. Mike Hill, chief executive of Graduate Prospects – which conducted its survey on behalf of HEDD – says: 'We found that the vast majority of small businesses, and only a fifth of large companies, verify qualifications. Interestingly, 89% of students and graduates said that by just having the knowledge that their qualifications were going to be checked would make them less likely to lie'.
Wilson is not so sure. 'Companies might be able to check up on the actual qualifications someone has got, but you'd be stupid to say you got an A for maths when you got a C – there's documented evidence against you.
'But for white lies, I don't think employers will ever be able to check. If I say, for example, that I can use a certain type of software, it's unlikely I'd get found out unless they put a computer in front of me during an interview and asked me to start doing something. I'd learn how to use the software on the job and no one would have known I'd made it up'.
This is a problem for employers. Soraya Pugh, head of graduate at FreshMinds Talent, said lying on a CV is, 'never a good idea, not only because you could get found out but because a lack of skills or experience will become apparent once you are in the role. With online recruitment and tools such as LinkedIn being your online CV, it is crucial to make sure all versions of your CV are the same or it will look like you are lying even if you are not'.
* Name has been changed
Source: Mark King, Guardian.co.uk, Friday 22nd June 2012
'I thought I'd better show that I had worked in a bank before, so I put down that I'd done a month's unpaid work in a local branch where I grew up. That branch had closed, anyway, so I knew they'd never be able to check'.
Wilson didn't get the job, but does not believe the fabrication on his CV was the reason. 'There's no way they could have found out, and when I asked for feedback they said it was because they had been inundated with applications from high-calibre graduates. I would consider doing it again in similar circumstances', he admits.
Higher university fees and a difficult jobs market could make 'education fraud' such as this more widespread, according to Graduate Prospects. It surveyed 1,306 students and graduates in May 2012 and found that close to half (43%) said the rise in tuition fees would make graduates more likely to lie on CVs and only a third disagreed outright. Two-thirds (68%) reported that buying a fake degree would be more tempting, while less than a quarter disagreed.
The majority of those surveyed admitted that they knew it was illegal to give misinformation on CVs, but a third said they knew someone who has lied or exaggerated about their qualifications on their CV. The most common lies were: giving a higher grade than they had actually achieved (47%); claiming they had completed a course when they only finished part of it (29%); offering a different course subject to suit the job requirements (13%); and saying they have a degree when they don't (11%).
Telling porkies on one's CV is enough of a concern for the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills to partner with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and Universities UK to launch an online service that allows employers to check candidates' qualifications.
The Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD) claims to already have all 165 publicly-funded universities and colleges in the UK on board. Mike Hill, chief executive of Graduate Prospects – which conducted its survey on behalf of HEDD – says: 'We found that the vast majority of small businesses, and only a fifth of large companies, verify qualifications. Interestingly, 89% of students and graduates said that by just having the knowledge that their qualifications were going to be checked would make them less likely to lie'.
Wilson is not so sure. 'Companies might be able to check up on the actual qualifications someone has got, but you'd be stupid to say you got an A for maths when you got a C – there's documented evidence against you.
'But for white lies, I don't think employers will ever be able to check. If I say, for example, that I can use a certain type of software, it's unlikely I'd get found out unless they put a computer in front of me during an interview and asked me to start doing something. I'd learn how to use the software on the job and no one would have known I'd made it up'.
This is a problem for employers. Soraya Pugh, head of graduate at FreshMinds Talent, said lying on a CV is, 'never a good idea, not only because you could get found out but because a lack of skills or experience will become apparent once you are in the role. With online recruitment and tools such as LinkedIn being your online CV, it is crucial to make sure all versions of your CV are the same or it will look like you are lying even if you are not'.
* Name has been changed
Source: Mark King, Guardian.co.uk, Friday 22nd June 2012
Friday 22 June 2012
Graduate CV fraud looks set to increase as jobs market founders, reports Graduate Prospects
Higher university fees and a difficult jobs market could make education fraud more widespread, according to Graduate Prospects.
Graduate Prospects, the provider of graduate careers advice, surveyed 1,306 students and graduates in May 2012.
Almost half (43%) said the rise in tuition fees would make graduates more likely to lie on CVs and only a third disagreed outright. Two-thirds (68%) reported that buying a fake degree would be more tempting, less than a quarter disagreed.
While two-thirds of students and graduates recognised that it is illegal to give misinformation on CVs, a third already knew someone who has lied or exaggerated about their qualifications on their CV.
The top four qualification lies graduates are most likely to lie about are grade - give a higher class than they actually achieved (47%); course completion - say they completed a course when they only finished part of it (29%); subject - give a different course subject to suit a job's requirements (13%); qualification - say they have a degree when they don't (11%).
Graduate Prospects carried out the survey as part of its development of the Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD) online degree verification system.
Funded by the Department for Business Innovation & Skills via HEFCE and supported by Universities UK, HEDD is being launched to help combat education fraud by making it simpler and quicker for employers to check candidate qualifications. It currently costs universities more than £2m annually to fulfil degree verification requests1 HEDD will make it easier for institutions to monitor, audit and report on enquiries.
Mike Hill, chief executive of Graduate Prospects, said: "Through HEDD trials, we know that people are exaggerating their qualifications, but we are yet to identify what proportion is down to error and what is deliberately deceitful. We carried out this survey to shed some light on the topic.
"We found that half of students and graduates expect employers to check qualifications, but the reality is quite different. As part of a HEDD pilot study, we found that the vast majority of small businesses, and only a fifth of large companies, verify qualifications2. Interestingly, 89% of students and graduates said that by just having the knowledge that that their qualifications were going to be checked would make them less likely to lie. If someone is willing to lie at such an early stage, how can you trust them when they become part of your organisation? It's incredibly important that employers validate who they are recruiting.
"The combination of higher fees and a difficult labour market could well make degree fraud more widespread. The sector needs to come together to raise awareness of these issues, protecting the time and financial investment made by genuine students as well as the reputation of a UK education."
All UK universities and colleges are eligible to join HEDD. It currently includes all 165 publicly funded universities and colleges in the UK, plus the University of Buckingham, which have reported their student outcomes to the Higher Education Statistics Agency from 1990.
Source: David Woods, Hrmagazine.co.uk, Friday 22nd June 2012
Graduate Prospects, the provider of graduate careers advice, surveyed 1,306 students and graduates in May 2012.
Almost half (43%) said the rise in tuition fees would make graduates more likely to lie on CVs and only a third disagreed outright. Two-thirds (68%) reported that buying a fake degree would be more tempting, less than a quarter disagreed.
While two-thirds of students and graduates recognised that it is illegal to give misinformation on CVs, a third already knew someone who has lied or exaggerated about their qualifications on their CV.
The top four qualification lies graduates are most likely to lie about are grade - give a higher class than they actually achieved (47%); course completion - say they completed a course when they only finished part of it (29%); subject - give a different course subject to suit a job's requirements (13%); qualification - say they have a degree when they don't (11%).
Graduate Prospects carried out the survey as part of its development of the Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD) online degree verification system.
Funded by the Department for Business Innovation & Skills via HEFCE and supported by Universities UK, HEDD is being launched to help combat education fraud by making it simpler and quicker for employers to check candidate qualifications. It currently costs universities more than £2m annually to fulfil degree verification requests1 HEDD will make it easier for institutions to monitor, audit and report on enquiries.
Mike Hill, chief executive of Graduate Prospects, said: "Through HEDD trials, we know that people are exaggerating their qualifications, but we are yet to identify what proportion is down to error and what is deliberately deceitful. We carried out this survey to shed some light on the topic.
"We found that half of students and graduates expect employers to check qualifications, but the reality is quite different. As part of a HEDD pilot study, we found that the vast majority of small businesses, and only a fifth of large companies, verify qualifications2. Interestingly, 89% of students and graduates said that by just having the knowledge that that their qualifications were going to be checked would make them less likely to lie. If someone is willing to lie at such an early stage, how can you trust them when they become part of your organisation? It's incredibly important that employers validate who they are recruiting.
"The combination of higher fees and a difficult labour market could well make degree fraud more widespread. The sector needs to come together to raise awareness of these issues, protecting the time and financial investment made by genuine students as well as the reputation of a UK education."
All UK universities and colleges are eligible to join HEDD. It currently includes all 165 publicly funded universities and colleges in the UK, plus the University of Buckingham, which have reported their student outcomes to the Higher Education Statistics Agency from 1990.
Source: David Woods, Hrmagazine.co.uk, Friday 22nd June 2012
Thursday 21 June 2012
New degree checks for graduates to combat 'CV fraud'
A new degree verification service is being launched following claims that ex-students are deliberately lying on CVs and inflating their qualifications to get ahead in the race for well-paid positions, it emerged.
The service – bankrolled by the Government’s Higher Education Funding Council for England – will allow prospective employers to check that degree grades quoted by applicants are true.
It comes after research showed that the vast majority of small businesses – and only a fifth of large companies – currently verify qualifications, usually directly with individual colleges and universities.
Mike Hill, chief executive of careers service Graduate Prospects, which is running the verification system, warned that the problem was likely to get worse at a time of rising tuition fees.
“We know that people are exaggerating their qualifications, but we are yet to identify what proportion is down to error and what is deliberately deceitful,” he said.
“The combination of higher fees and a difficult labour market could well make degree fraud more widespread. The sector needs to come together to raise awareness of these issues, protecting the time and financial investment made by genuine students as well as the reputation of a UK education.”
The Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD) will charge employers £10 each to make enquiries on graduates’ qualifications. It will use a secure online database to allow companies to check up on degree grades.
The system is being launched as part of an £18m modernisation fund introduced to help universities and colleges deliver better value for money.
To coincide with the launch, Graduate Prospects commissioned a survey of more than 1,300 current students and graduates.
It suggested that more students would be tempted to lie on CVs following a move to almost triple the cost of a university degree this summer.
Of those surveyed, more than four-in-10 said the introduction of fees of up to £9,000 would make people more likely to exaggerate their achievements.
As part of a trial of the HEDD system, Graduate Prospects found that only a fraction of employers checked student CVs at all, with almost no small businesses verifying grades.
Source: Graeme Paton, Telegraph.co.uk, Thursday 21st June 2012
The service – bankrolled by the Government’s Higher Education Funding Council for England – will allow prospective employers to check that degree grades quoted by applicants are true.
It comes after research showed that the vast majority of small businesses – and only a fifth of large companies – currently verify qualifications, usually directly with individual colleges and universities.
Mike Hill, chief executive of careers service Graduate Prospects, which is running the verification system, warned that the problem was likely to get worse at a time of rising tuition fees.
“We know that people are exaggerating their qualifications, but we are yet to identify what proportion is down to error and what is deliberately deceitful,” he said.
“The combination of higher fees and a difficult labour market could well make degree fraud more widespread. The sector needs to come together to raise awareness of these issues, protecting the time and financial investment made by genuine students as well as the reputation of a UK education.”
The Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD) will charge employers £10 each to make enquiries on graduates’ qualifications. It will use a secure online database to allow companies to check up on degree grades.
The system is being launched as part of an £18m modernisation fund introduced to help universities and colleges deliver better value for money.
To coincide with the launch, Graduate Prospects commissioned a survey of more than 1,300 current students and graduates.
It suggested that more students would be tempted to lie on CVs following a move to almost triple the cost of a university degree this summer.
Of those surveyed, more than four-in-10 said the introduction of fees of up to £9,000 would make people more likely to exaggerate their achievements.
As part of a trial of the HEDD system, Graduate Prospects found that only a fraction of employers checked student CVs at all, with almost no small businesses verifying grades.
Source: Graeme Paton, Telegraph.co.uk, Thursday 21st June 2012
Wednesday 20 June 2012
Graduates at Louth plastics recycler Luxus
Two local graduates are taking their careers from strength to strength after moving another step up the ladder at Louth plastics recycler Luxus.
Robert Silvester, 22, and colleague Simon Thompson, also 22, have been appointed as the latest apprentices to join the firm’s graduate academy, taking the total to four in the past year.
Robert, of Louth, is a Sheffield University graduate with a BSc (Hons) in physics and Simon, of North Cockerington, has a BSc in education and mathematics from Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln.
After joining the technical plastics company they have seen their careers take off and continue to benefit from learning their trade further.
“I’ve always enjoyed designing and making things and this, together with my science background, meant this job provided a great fit,” said Simon.
“Luxus is investing in graduates and thinking about the long term, so I really wanted to be part of this forward-thinking company.”
Pete Atterby, managing director at Luxus, added: “We believe that increasing interest in our academy can help us to really address this skills gap.
“Job satisfaction has always been an important issue for us – that’s why currently a third of our workforce has been with us for over a decade.”
Source: Louthleader.co.uk, Wednesday 20th June 2012
Robert Silvester, 22, and colleague Simon Thompson, also 22, have been appointed as the latest apprentices to join the firm’s graduate academy, taking the total to four in the past year.
Robert, of Louth, is a Sheffield University graduate with a BSc (Hons) in physics and Simon, of North Cockerington, has a BSc in education and mathematics from Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln.
After joining the technical plastics company they have seen their careers take off and continue to benefit from learning their trade further.
“I’ve always enjoyed designing and making things and this, together with my science background, meant this job provided a great fit,” said Simon.
“Luxus is investing in graduates and thinking about the long term, so I really wanted to be part of this forward-thinking company.”
Pete Atterby, managing director at Luxus, added: “We believe that increasing interest in our academy can help us to really address this skills gap.
“Job satisfaction has always been an important issue for us – that’s why currently a third of our workforce has been with us for over a decade.”
Source: Louthleader.co.uk, Wednesday 20th June 2012
Tuesday 19 June 2012
Grad Central celebrates success with milestone placement
Leading graduate recruitment specialist, Grad Central, is celebrating its 600th placement, following a successful year exiting from under AWM funding.
Discussing the milestone, Lucy Cheatham, Marketing Director at Grad Central, commented: "Grad Central was initially set up with the help of AWM to help retain graduate talent within the West Midlands. Throughout this period we've assisted businesses and graduates looking to fill roles and help drive the region's economic growth.
"Year after year the West Midlands has seen considerable growth in the graduate job market, with more large corporations recognising the importance of graduates within their business. Since the demise of the regional development agencies, Grad Central has successfully become self sufficient, securing exclusive contracts with National Express, Yell, Deutsche Bank and Coca-Cola - some of the region's largest employers."
In addition, the recruitment specialist has been pioneering new and innovative interview solutions.
"With more graduates than ever currently seeking roles, Grad Central has been supporting candidates through new initiatives designed to help them stand out against their peers, and secure their perfect role. Video CV's are becoming increasingly more popular amongst our clients. They allow candidates to express their personality and passion for a particular role, which often can set them apart from another candidate with equal experience.
"In addition, our dedicated open days have seen numbers increase month on month and offer clients and candidates the perfect opportunity to meet face-to-face."
The placement figures form part of an annual assessment, which shows a strong increase in the number of graduate roles being created throughout the West Midlands region. Growth industries included: IT, sales, marketing communications, customer services and general management.
Grad Central is dedicated to matching both recently qualified and more experienced graduate talent with business needs across the West Midlands region. The company offers a wide range of solutions to manage a business' recruitment process from start to finish, whether this is through one of its expert consultants or with its recently launched Jobs Board.
Source: Onrec.com, Tuesday 19th June 2012
Discussing the milestone, Lucy Cheatham, Marketing Director at Grad Central, commented: "Grad Central was initially set up with the help of AWM to help retain graduate talent within the West Midlands. Throughout this period we've assisted businesses and graduates looking to fill roles and help drive the region's economic growth.
"Year after year the West Midlands has seen considerable growth in the graduate job market, with more large corporations recognising the importance of graduates within their business. Since the demise of the regional development agencies, Grad Central has successfully become self sufficient, securing exclusive contracts with National Express, Yell, Deutsche Bank and Coca-Cola - some of the region's largest employers."
In addition, the recruitment specialist has been pioneering new and innovative interview solutions.
"With more graduates than ever currently seeking roles, Grad Central has been supporting candidates through new initiatives designed to help them stand out against their peers, and secure their perfect role. Video CV's are becoming increasingly more popular amongst our clients. They allow candidates to express their personality and passion for a particular role, which often can set them apart from another candidate with equal experience.
"In addition, our dedicated open days have seen numbers increase month on month and offer clients and candidates the perfect opportunity to meet face-to-face."
The placement figures form part of an annual assessment, which shows a strong increase in the number of graduate roles being created throughout the West Midlands region. Growth industries included: IT, sales, marketing communications, customer services and general management.
Grad Central is dedicated to matching both recently qualified and more experienced graduate talent with business needs across the West Midlands region. The company offers a wide range of solutions to manage a business' recruitment process from start to finish, whether this is through one of its expert consultants or with its recently launched Jobs Board.
Source: Onrec.com, Tuesday 19th June 2012
Monday 18 June 2012
M-hance Graduate Scheme Attracts Over 1,000 Applications
Innovative software provider receives 1,162 job applications for its six graduate positions.
A new graduate recruitment scheme by leading business software solutions provider m-hance has attracted over 1,000 applications following its launch last month. In total, m-hance has received 1,162 job applications in just four weeks for its graduate positions which will be based at its headquarters in Stockport from July 2012.
Mark Thompson, CEO of m-hance says, “We have been delighted by the volume and quality of applications we have received from outstanding graduates from all over the UK. Although our selection screening process is currently well underway, there is a limited period in which interested candidates can still apply.”
m-hance’s graduate scheme, which has been developed in partnership with specialist recruitment firm, Discovery Graduates, is offering six salaried positions within the business areas of product management, marketing, consulting, support, finance and sales. The most suitable candidates will be invited to attend one-to-one interviews and an assessment day which will be held at a hotel in central Manchester on 28 June.
In addition to being given permanent full-time paid positions, graduates will also receive in-house support from a dedicated m-hance mentor and regular offsite training through Discovery’s OPEN programme.
Thompson comments, “m-hance is a young, energetic and enthused company which is exactly the kind of people we’re hoping to attract through our graduate scheme. Within our walls, graduates will find years of experience and expertise in delivering world-class IT solutions, and the financial backing to provide our staff with security and support through ongoing training and development.”
m-hance was formed in November 2011 through acquisition. It is now the UK’s fastest growing provider of innovative business software solutions to mid-sized organisations and is supported by 230 staff from offices in Manchester, London, Loughborough, Dublin and Glasgow. m-hance also has a sales and operations presence in the United States and offshore development capabilities in India.
m-hance’s graduate recruitment scheme is part of an ongoing recruitment drive. Interested applicants should visit www.m-hance.com/about-us/careers/
Source: Bdaily.co.uk, Monday 18th June 2012
A new graduate recruitment scheme by leading business software solutions provider m-hance has attracted over 1,000 applications following its launch last month. In total, m-hance has received 1,162 job applications in just four weeks for its graduate positions which will be based at its headquarters in Stockport from July 2012.
Mark Thompson, CEO of m-hance says, “We have been delighted by the volume and quality of applications we have received from outstanding graduates from all over the UK. Although our selection screening process is currently well underway, there is a limited period in which interested candidates can still apply.”
m-hance’s graduate scheme, which has been developed in partnership with specialist recruitment firm, Discovery Graduates, is offering six salaried positions within the business areas of product management, marketing, consulting, support, finance and sales. The most suitable candidates will be invited to attend one-to-one interviews and an assessment day which will be held at a hotel in central Manchester on 28 June.
In addition to being given permanent full-time paid positions, graduates will also receive in-house support from a dedicated m-hance mentor and regular offsite training through Discovery’s OPEN programme.
Thompson comments, “m-hance is a young, energetic and enthused company which is exactly the kind of people we’re hoping to attract through our graduate scheme. Within our walls, graduates will find years of experience and expertise in delivering world-class IT solutions, and the financial backing to provide our staff with security and support through ongoing training and development.”
m-hance was formed in November 2011 through acquisition. It is now the UK’s fastest growing provider of innovative business software solutions to mid-sized organisations and is supported by 230 staff from offices in Manchester, London, Loughborough, Dublin and Glasgow. m-hance also has a sales and operations presence in the United States and offshore development capabilities in India.
m-hance’s graduate recruitment scheme is part of an ongoing recruitment drive. Interested applicants should visit www.m-hance.com/about-us/careers/
Source: Bdaily.co.uk, Monday 18th June 2012
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