Do graduate job hunters sell themselves short when applying for graduate jobs?

One in five graduates haven’t applied for graduate jobs as they feel they have no chance for success.

According to a recent survey many graduates are not applying for graduate jobs as they feel they have no chance for success. The findings from the survey were presented at last weeks TARGETjobs breakfast news event in London, which looked at recruitment trends and issues for graduate employers.

The survey of more than 5,000 undergraduates on the targetjobs.co.uk database found that they hadn’t applied for graduate jobs because they have other plans (39%), to busy (28%), didn’t think they would be successful (19%), they graduate job didn’t look attractive (14%).

Around 36% of graduates get a place on a graduate training scheme according to a presentation by Marcus Body, head of research at Work Group. Just 2% of graduates managed to secure a fast track graduate programme, with the rest of the graduates (64%) entering jobs that aren’t part of a graduate training programme/scheme. Many graduates start applying for graduate schemes early as these are the best graduate jobs that can offer structured training, higher pay and a better career path.

Source: Pareto.co.uk, Friday 9th March 2012