North East big names seeking to recruit graduates

St. James’ Park will play host to 56 companies as part of the Newcastle Graduate Recruitment Fair, and students and graduates are invited to discuss job openings and opportunities.

Newcastle University Careers Service has secured firms such as IBM, Abercrombie and Fitch and Deloitte, and there will also be representatives outlining further study and professional training opportunities.

Nick Keeley, director of the Careers Service at Newcastle University, said: “This is a great event for all penultimate year students and graduates from across the North East to attend and network with people in business, who are offering a variety of opportunities to kick-start a fulfilling career.

“It’s great to see so many recruiters targeting graduates in this region, and choosing to bring their vacancies to us.

“Employers will be promoting hundreds of opportunities in a variety of sectors, including law, finance, engineering, retail, science and the public sector, so there will be something for everyone.”

Newcastle University students should bring their smartcard for quicker access, while students from other universities will be asked to sign in.

The fair takes place at the Bamburgh Suite from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

It’s great to see so many recruiters targeting graduates in this region, and choosing to bring their vacancies to us.

Source: John Hill, Nebusiness.co.uk, Saturday 9th June 2012

Master the stage many graduate job hunters skip: research

If there’s one stage which is neglected more than any other in the graduate job hunt, it’s research. If you take the time to do a thorough job, you could get an edge over the competition, and you’ll be much better placed to sell your skills in your application and interviews. You’ll also have a much clearer idea of whether the positions you’re applying for are right for you.

If you start early and identify companies you’re interested in, you’ll pick up news about them as you go along. You’ll also be able to make use of your networks to find out what organisations are really like to work for and to hear about vacancies that might not be advertised.

That’s the ideal approach, but life doesn’t always turn out that way. If you’re trying to gather information about an employer in a last-minute panic, there are short cuts you can take that will help you get by. Use our Employer Insights to find out about company culture, how graduate schemes are structured and what organisations are looking for, and to read up about other employers in the sector you are interested in.

The questions you shouldn’t overlook

It is essential to find out who to address the application to. Don’t take it for granted that you will be writing to the line manager. If you’re writing to a woman, check what title they use. Mrs, Ms and Miss all have different connotations, and some will take offence if you use the wrong title. If in doubt, telephone the office and check.

You will win brownie points for taking a look at the competition. Applicants who understand how the industry as a whole works will have a much deeper insight into how the particular company they are applying to fits within it. Similarly, you might learn more about the role by looking at how similar jobs function in other companies.

• LinkedIn can provide a useful database of individual and business information

While research is an essential part of the application process, it is important not to over-think it. Seize opportunities when you can. Many people won’t apply for jobs if they don’t fulfil all of the criteria – particularly among female job seekers. It’s easy to get into this state of mind if you imagine that someone else might fulfil all the job requirements. However, recruiters look for candidates who will be a good fit, and may hire a really keen applicant over a more qualified one.

How to structure your research

To do a top-notch job, sit down and dedicate some serious time to investigating what the vacancy is all about. Give it a day, if not two. A good way to structure research is to have a framework of questions to answer:

• What do I need to know? Aim to understand the company, what makes it different and why it is relevant to you.
• What can I find out from employer resources? Check out official websites, Twitter feeds, and pages on other sites.
• What do they really mean? It’s not enough to copy + paste phrases into your application, you need to put them in your own terms.
• What else can I learn? It’s actually a good thing to get distracted when doing research. It will give you a wider understanding of the business, and fodder for interviews.
• What can I find out elsewhere? Don’t just rely on a company’s official website.

Good research is the key to speculative applications

There are various ‘tip-of-the-iceberg’ statistics out there which suggest that many vacancies go un-advertised. By applying ‘on spec’, you can widen your net, and even if you aren’t successful you can ask for notifications of any vacancies which do open up.

Source: Targetjobs.co.uk, Thursday 7th June 2012

Portrait of an art graduate, circa 2012

What does it mean to be an art graduate in 2012? This year's art degree shows feature talent as provocative and original as ever. But a shrinking market for fine art, combined with an ever-increasing number of graduates, mean it's not going to be easy for this year's hopefuls to make their mark.

The rising cost of studio space, high unemployment, and a growing culture of unpaid internships paint a grim picture of life after art school. But armed with talent, ambition and a bit of creative thinking, graduates from the Glasgow School of Art and Goldsmiths, University of London, plan to take the art world by storm.

"My course has brought out what I really want to do," says Hannah Lewis, 22, who is graduating from Goldsmiths. "I – and my work – have been tested to the max."

Of course, not everyone shares this view of art college as a rigorous training process.

"When you tell someone you are at art school, they get this look of condescension on their face. I get fiercely defensive because I think you learn practical skills, you discover how to be self-motivated, and you are constantly forced to articulate your ideas," says Aileen McEwen, 22, who studied at Glasgow.

Goldsmiths graduate Becca Voelcker, 21, who is going on to an MA in film theory at Cambridge, enjoyed the academic side of her course too: "I loved the lectures and seminars, and writing my dissertation."

Do the Goldsmiths students think it'll be harder for them to break into the art scene than it was for Damien Hirst and the Young British Artists who graduated from the same college in the early 1990s? The answer is a resounding yes.

"It's hard to be noticed now, because there's so much competition," says Eleanor Davies, 22. "I feel like the standard was lower back then too – I saw the Chapman brothers' degree show piece recently and it was just two snow globes – I couldn't get away with that!"

Still, recessions are often said to bring out creativity and encourage lateral thinking. Many of these graduating students plan to take on part-time jobs, but they are optimistic about continuing their practice. Micah Harbon, 24, who is graduating from Goldsmiths, says: "You can't think 'I'm out of a job'; you've got to think 'I'm going to make my own money'. I don't think there's a job already out there that's perfect for me; I'd like to make the perfect job for myself."

The cost of studio space and materials is a one of the biggest problems. Goldsmiths graduate Christopher M Smith, 24, says: "I'm going to miss the workshops. Now I'm leaving, I'm thinking 'Where am I going to cast resin?' I can't do it in my bedroom … I'd die."

Unpaid internships at galleries or as artist's assistants are sought after, but costly.

"I hate the way you are expected to work for free and be supported by your parents," says Davies. "Galleries often expect you to work for a long time, so I would have to save up. I would need to know that it would be useful and I wouldn't just be free labour."

From September, art students will be paying up to £9,000 a year to study art. Opinions are divided among these graduates about whether they would still have picked art if they'd had to invest so much.

Emma Reid, 23, who studied at Glasgow, says: "I feel lucky that I'm leaving higher education, rather than just getting in to it. The higher fees must put so much pressure on students."

Ruth Lowe, 23, an aspiring art teacher from Goldsmiths, disagrees: "You don't come to Goldsmiths and study art because you don't know what else to do; you come here because you are dedicated and passionate. Yes, £9,000 makes it more difficult, but I don't think it's going to put people off who really want to be here."

For those who can impress investors, there is still financial help out there. Budding businesswoman Gabriella Marcella DiTano, 22, who studied visual communication at Glasgow, has won an award from Deutsche Bank with which she will set up her own printing firm. "I don't think my family understand what I've been doing for four years at art school," she says. "My parents are shocked that I am going to make money out of my own work!"

Noticeable among the Goldsmiths graduates are concerns about the skyrocketing costs of living and working in England's capital. Kat Day, 21, says: "I would love to carry on my art practice, but the cost of living in London is a barrier; it's so expensive. Berlin is calling a little bit; you can live so cheaply over there."

Attitudes towards Glasgow couldn't be more different. Steven Grainger, 24, says: "I'm definitely staying in Glasgow; it's a really exciting place to be. There are a lot of new art spaces, and artists believe in what they're doing."

They recognise that many before them have been forced to give up on their dream. "It's sad to see that there are some graduates from last year whose websites aren't up and running any more," says Day. "Perhaps they have pursued other things."

"No one ever talks about the future in the studio, because I don't think anyone has the answer," says Smith.

"The degree show is, and will be for a long time, the only chance we get for a few thousand people to see what we do. Some of us might never get that again."

Source: Helen Crane, Guardian.co.uk, Thursday 7th June 2012

Students come face to face with the jobs market

Every student reaches that anxious moment when their degree ends, and suddenly they have to face the real world.

With one in three graduates in a lower skilled job, the appetite for gap years at an all-time low and the recession showing no sign of receding, students have to be dogged in their quest for jobs in the fiercely competitive graduate market.

A major boon for the undecided student is the graduate fair, where graduates can meet potential employers, research industries they are interested in, and market themselves.

I spoke to students at the the Summer Graduate Fair in London last week. They were just completing their degrees, and I asked them what they thought about gap years and about their plans for the post-graduation future.

Ed Pithie, 21, drama and film studies, University of Kent
"I started career planning as soon as I'd handed in my final piece of coursework. There's not that many careers related to drama and film that I really want to do, so I'm thinking of applying for something sales or marketing related – and writing is another interest."

Matt Caddie, 20, history, University of Kent
"I've really enjoyed my degree subject and think it's been helpful for my career so I am going on to do a masters. I disagree with people who say university isn't 'worth it' anymore, as I definitely couldn't have got a job before uni. After my masters, I'm looking to go into sales and marketing and maybe business management."

Louise Arathoon, 21, physics and philosophy, King's College London
"I've got a place on a postgraduate course but am still unsure if I'm going to take it, so I'm just looking at what other graduate opportunities are out there.
Last year I was ill and couldn't sit my exams, so I was forced to take an impromptu gap year. I think the travelling experience is really important, but then again, if I'd been able to continue my studies and graduate normally, I would have just headed straight into work."

Cassie Taylor, 22, business management and marketing, Nottingham Trent 
"The modules on my course and the work that I've been doing has helped in interviews, and I spent my placement year with the company GE which was really valuable. The graduate market is tough at the moment. There's a lot of rejection and also uncertainty as to whether the employer has even looked at your application, but it's important to remember that there are still jobs out there."

Mohit Khanna, 23, finance and business management, University of Bedfordshire
"I don't actually agree with gap years. The market is so tough at the moment that I just think it's important to get out there and look for a job as soon as possible."

Source: Sian Boyle, Guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 6th June 2012

Graduate job search heats up with graduates looking for work much earlier

High Fliers Research report indicates graduates applying much earlier.

A new report from High Fliers Research indicates that graduates are applying for their graduate jobs much earlier. The study looked at the views of 17,000 final year students, it has indicated that not only are students apply earlier they are also less likely to take gap years as graduates start looking for their graduate careers earlier. Only 12% of those interviewed were considering taking a gap year after their studies.

The research shows that 42% of graduates had applied for graduate jobs in October with over two thirds having applied by the end of February. The research has also shown that students have been applying on mass with the volume of applications rising by a massive 40% in the last two years.

Martin Birchall the managing director of High Fliers research has this to say; ‘Three years ago, when the recession first took hold, many students felt there was little point in looking for a graduate job in such a tough employment market and instead opted to take time off, go travelling or enrol for further study at university… Today's students aren't necessarily more confident about the graduate job market but have been fighting really hard to secure the jobs that are on offer from employers’

Marketing leads the way with applications for graduate jobs with other job areas seeing a return to pre credit crunch levels. Some jobs however have seen a fall in applications namely law, engineering and the armed forces. The job cuts in the public sector have also been noted by graduates with a large drop in those looking to work in the public sector after graduating.

The report also showed that graduates continue to prefer a move to work in the capital after graduation.

Source: Pareto.co.uk, Thursday 31st May 2012

Logica takeover agreed

IT services company Logica, a major UK graduate recruiter, has agreed to a takeover.

The buyer is CGI, also a major player in the IT services sector, employing 31,000 people at 125 offices across North America, Europe, India and Australia, including a head office in Canada.

Providing the deal goes ahead, it would create a company of 72,000, operating in 43 countries, and in a strong position to compete against global giants in the IT services field. However, it’s possible that a counter-bid for Logica may emerge.

Logica employs around 5,500 people in the UK. It’s likely that the takeover would lead to job cuts at its head office in Reading; however, it could be the boost the company needs to recover from last year’s profit slump. Logica chairman David Tyler commented: ‘Given the very limited geographic overlap and CGI’s strong reputation for successful integration, we believe this transaction will offer great opportunities.’

Logica currently looks to recruit around 240 people a year onto its 18-month graduate scheme, a figure that has increased rapidly over the past year.

Source: Targetjobs.co.uk, Thursday 31st May 2012

'Graduates who come to the UK will do anything to pay the rent'

Lorena is an agricultural engineer from Galicia and Moisés is a graduate of international business from Asturias. Both now pack shelves, cut meat and serve customers in a grocery store in London after leaving Spain in search of work.

They are part of a wave of immigration that has made the Spanish the fastest-growing group of foreign workers in the UK as they flee high unemployment and the fear of economic collapse.

One in four Spaniards is unemployed and one in two young people. Staff at the Spanish embassy in London say that this year 70,000 Spaniards have registered with them, but believe there could be five times as many working, studying or looking for a job.

Lorena López, 28, has been in London for a year. "I lost my job and there was no work in Spain. So I came here. I'm an engineer, but I work in a shop. It's not usual, but I don't speak English very well. Now I have a lot of friends who were nurses, engineers, everything, who have also come."

Moisés Santos García, 31, arrived in London two days ago. Although a graduate of international business, he has only ever worked as a waiter. He explains that the competition for jobs is so great in Spain that employers demand skills and qualifications that would not normally be relevant to reduce the number of applicants.

Spanish immigration to the UK dates back to the reign of Henry VIII, whose first wife, Catherine of Aragon, was Spanish. More recently, many Galicians came to the UK after the second world war but Spain's economic boom, which began with the death of Franco in 1975 and accelerated when the country entered the EU in 1986, slowed migration.

At the north end of the Portobello Road in west London, just as it passes under the motorway, there is an area that could justifiably be called Little Spain. Supermarkets sell Spanish shampoo and soap and everything else you might find in a Spanish supermarket. There are cafes and restaurants where long-established Anglo-Spaniards and tourists are served paella and tapas by recently arrived waiting staff who have yet to master English. Farther north is the Instituto Español Vicente Cañada Blanch, a school run by the Spanish ministry of education which is free for Spanish nationals. With 500 pupils and 50 teachers, it has a pupil-teacher ratio more like a private school.

Antonio Carrera, 60, came to London from Galicia in the 1960s to escape the poverty and oppression and owns restaurants, shops and a linen business in the Portobello area. "Every week I get 15 CVs and they are from engineers and other graduates. They are willing to do anything just to pay for their rent," he said.

Most of the staff he employs are Spanish and the economic situation in Spain presents him with business opportunities. "I am tempted to invest in new business. Three years ago it was impossible to get a Spanish chef or restaurant manager. I could not afford them, but now there is no shortage. But I am cautious because the economic situation in the UK is also not clear," he said.

The attraction of the UK is the existence of jobs and the possibility of learning English and a welcoming atmosphere, according to Carrera. "In 43 years living here, I have never been treated like a foreigner," he said.

Source: Conal Urquhart, Guardian.co.uk, Sunday 3rd June 2012

10 things every graduate should know before they start job hunting

If the 370,000 students set to graduate from UK universities this summer know just one thing, it's that the party is over. Figures from employment website Totaljobs show one in three graduates is claiming jobseeker's allowance and a quarter of graduates haven't had a single interview.

Huge numbers of roles posted on graduate "job boards" are, in fact, lengthy unpaid internships – and research from Incomes Data Services found that those lucky enough to find paid work will discover their starting salary is 2% lower than it was for the class of 2011.

Certainly, 2012 is a tough year to graduate – but there is still a great deal that jobseekers can do to boost their chances of finding employment. Frustratingly, it seems little of this advice is reaching them – of the hundreds of recent graduates I met while writing How to Get a Graduate Job in a Recession, few felt confident about tackling the task ahead.

Many say they found their university careers service uninspiring and unhelpful – that's if they made it through the door. So what are the things the class of 2012 really needs to know?

1 Unpaid internships are illegal

The biggest issue for today's graduates isn't joblessness – it is unpaid internships. According to Interns Anonymous, a quarter of interns have done three or more placements, and one in four internships lasts more than six months. Increasingly, it's a myth that unpaid internships lead to paid jobs; now they are replacing paid jobs.

There is no legal definition of an intern, but national minimum wage law states anybody who qualifies as a worker must be paid at least £6.08 an hour (if aged 21 and over) unless their employer is a charity. If an intern's role has set hours and responsibilities and the person is contributing work that's of value to their employer, it's likely the company is breaking the law. Yes, even if the intern says they're happy to work for nothing.

The problem is that the law simply isn't being enforced – and making this happen is proving difficult. Happily, the UK has the most active interns' rights movement in the world (this is a global problem).

Graduate Fog (which I founded) and Intern Aware has just launchedInterns Fight for Justice, a campaign aimed to help interns take their high-profile former employers to a tribunal.

2 Ignore the headlines – there are still jobs out there

News that 83 graduates apply for every job is eye-catching, but is it really true? The big graduate schemes may be over-subscribed, but a major PR agency received just six applications for a junior account executive job paying £24,000. Are graduates only applying to the big names, via adverts they've seen in the most obvious places?

"Doom and gloom makes headlines but, believe it nor, not there is a huge shortage of bright, employable graduates," says James Uffindell, founder of recruitment site Bright Network. "The war for talent is back on. Major blue chip recruiters and fast-growing startups are recruiting again. We're helping consulting firms, media businesses, hedge funds and many other enterprises find the talent they need to grow their businesses."

3 Doing more education isn't the answer

A second degree means a better job – or at least a better chance of getting a job. Right? Wrong. Think carefully before you sign up for an expensive postgraduate course that may be of little interest to employers – and beware of the increasingly slick marketing methods used by universities (remember, education is a business now).

"Many graduate recruiters are happy with an undergraduate degree – few job adverts stipulate a postgraduate qualification," says Dan Hawes, head of marketing at Graduate Recruitment Bureau.

Candidates with a postgraduate degree shouldn't expect a higher salary either. "After degree level, earnings actually decrease the more educated someone is," adds Uffindell.

Don't view postgraduate study as a genius ploy to "wait out" the recession. Who says things will be better in 12 months? In 2013 you'll be competing with a new batch of graduates – plus those who didn't find work this year.

4 Give the industry you have chosen a health check

The digital revolution has turned many industries upside down. The music industry, book publishing and print journalism are obvious examples, but other industries are suffering, too. This means the "dream jobs" you've set your heart on may not even exist in a few years – and if they do, they could be poorly paid and insecure.

Graduates often hope that if they want their goal badly enough, they'll get there. Sadly, this isn't true. Look around. If people established in your chosen industry are bailing out, what does that tell you? Think laterally and take your skills to a growing sector. Your career spans 40 years. Don't pick an industry that will be dead in five.

5 The perfect CV is a myth

Graduates obsess about crafting the perfect CV, but there's no such thing. If yours is clear and concise, stop fiddling. And forget about trying to stand out. If your application is really good, it will get noticed.

Instead, use the extra time to check your online footprint. "Google yourself. What comes up – and how does it make you look?" says James Whatley, social media consultant at Social@Ogilvy. "Potential employers will do this – so make sure you've done it first." Use Facebook's new "view as" button (found under the "edit profile" settings) to see how your non-friends can see you – and adjust the privacy settings accordingly. "Next, set up your LinkedIn profile. It's a brilliant place for hearing about jobs on the grapevine. Keep adding new training and skills you pick up, so it's always bang up to date," adds Whatley.

6 Don't forget the little guys

To many university leavers, the big graduate schemes seem like the holy grail – and missing out is a cause for despair. But are they really all that? Or are graduates just seduced by the structure that feels so familiar after years of full-time education?

Don't dismiss small- to medium-sized companies (SMEs, with less than 250 employees) – that's where the bulk of graduate vacancies lie. "Of the 60,000 graduate jobs in the UK, only 16,000 are with blue chip companies," says Hawes. "The remaining 44,000 are with SMEs, the public sector or charities." Thousands of SMEs are desperate to hire bright young graduates – but they may not advertise in the obvious places as it's expensive, so do some extra sleuthing to track them down.

7 Offer to help – but don't beg an employer for experience

Don't use your covering letter to tell a sob story about why you need a job to give you experience – however desperate you feel. And don't emphasise your potential – it sounds like you have nothing to offer (which isn't true). Instead, underline what you do have. Employers will hire you if they think you can help them – not because you need experience. And never offer to work for free. It looks as if you don't value your own contribution.

8 If it's really not working, it's time to stop doing it

The biggest mistake graduates make is repeating one job-hunting strategy again and again before wailing, "I've applied for 5,000 jobs and heard nothing back!" and the Daily Mail runs a story about it with a picture of them looking sad. It should never have come to that. After the first 50 applications, they should have stopped, reassessed and made a new plan.

Different industries require different approaches. Networking won't get you a public sector job – the procedure there is formal and structured. Few media people have ever filled out an application form – it's all about contacts and grabbing opportunities. Have the courage to ditch what isn't working – and try something new which might. What have you got to lose?

9 All the experience you have gained is good experience

Spent last summer litter-picking at Glastonbury and serving strawberries at Wimbledon? However lame you think your experience sounds, anything is better than nothing. "The key is to make it sound relevant for the job you're applying for," says Hawes. "Think back and see the job through the eyes of an employer. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them? What skills did you develop? What training did you have? This is all great stuff for applications and interviews."

10 Nobody wants to hire a robot

Yes, be professional when you're applying for jobs, but be yourself. Stiff, robotic graduates using business buzzwords incorrectly is a big no-no for recruiters. The world of work can seem intimidating but "Generation Y" jobseekers – anyone born between 1980 and 1995 – have more natural abilities than they realise.

Having grown up with the internet – including Wikis and blogs – they instinctively work collaboratively. "Sharing information, new discoveries and contacts is natural to Gen Y – and that's a big asset," says Justine James, director at organisational development consultancy talentsmoothie.

"Older workers hoard their knowledge and connections. Gen Y see no divide between social and professional networks, either – and a willingness to use a broad range of contacts is attractive to growing companies."

Tanya de Grunwald is the founder of careers blog GraduateFog

Why temping is a tempting option

Aliceja Fisher, 23, from Basingstoke, graduated from Southampton University in 2011 with a 2:2 in sociology. She is temping for a TV, internet and phone provider.

"When I graduated I had no idea how hard finding a job would be. I visited my university careers service twice but there was little practical advice about how to navigate today's job market and most people I know left university feeling drastically underprepared.

I've learned a lot in the last year. Initially, I only applied to big graduate schemes and rarely heard anything back. Then I tried charity internships, but quickly realised that most were unpaid and lunch and travel expenses aren't enough to live on. My friends and I have found they rarely lead to paid jobs anyway. A new intern – also unpaid – just replaces you.

My breakthrough came when I started temping. Suddenly I was earning money, gaining experience and making contacts. I wasn't excited when a data admin role position came up with my current employer, but it's been fantastic.

I've helped format a programme for a charity, which looks brilliant on my CV and I have met some great people who have said they'll let me know if any jobs come up.

My tip for 2012's job-seeking graduates is to understand that no one is going to do it for you. This isn't school or university. You have to be proactive, seek out employers and opportunities – and demonstrate you're a strong candidate for the role. Employers won't come to you – you have to go to them."

Source: Tanya de Grunwald, Guardian.co.uk, Friday 1st June 2012