LIZ MORTIMER
Graduating into a top job
As unemployment continues to rise, going out into the jobs market can be a daunting prospect. However, despite all the doom and gloom there are a range of roles out there waiting to be snapped up; we asked Graduate Futures to give us their top tips on getting the role you want, as well as the answers to some of your most common careers questions.
N 30 ovember 2010 saw Graduate
Futures host its first ‘Graduate Bootcamp.’ We invited summer 2010 graduates, looking for employment, into the MacLaurin Building for a day to learn about JobsNetPlus, internships, Knowledge
Transfer Partnerships and Enterprise. Participants also benefitted from expert
advice from University Careers Consultants and a recruitment agency, Matchtech. Feedback from the day was positive with one graduate commenting, “the more I looked for jobs the more I was confused and lost. However, everything (such as where to look for a job) became clearer by attending the workshop.” If you missed the event, or have found yourself in a position where you are looking for work, then here are some hints, tips and information, taken from questions we were asked on the day, to help you to get ahead.
“Can candidates be successful when applying for jobs that are outside their degree subject?” Approximately 60-70% of graduate level jobs do not specify a degree subject when advertised. Many employers are happy to teach you the skills that are relevant to the job and are interested in your attitude and employability skills rather than your degree subject. For example, for a position in public relations you should have excellent communication skills and for careers in accounting you will need to demonstrate numerical and analytical skills. Knowing what employers expect from graduates will put you on the right path to matching your skills to the workplace.
“Where can I find further information on options with a degree in…?”
Although you can apply for jobs outside of your subject area, many graduates will chose to focus on what they have studied. Researching your career path can be time consuming and even more challenging if you have no idea where to begin so, here are a few ideas to get you going:
The options with your subject section on Prospects is
a great starting point for highlighting jobs directly related to your degree and jobs where the degree you studied would be useful. For example, if you studied Law, then the skills you learnt on your course would lend themselves well to, amongst others, Human Resources. Find out what past University of Hertfordshire students, that studied your course, are now doing and where they are working. Our Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey results can really help you to think about your choices based on where others have been successful.
“How do you pursue a career in the creative industries?”
The Industry Insights section on Prospects is an
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