expenses whilst studying, and for graduates the competition to secure employment is ever increasing. For this reason employability remains firmly at the top of the agenda for the Guild.


In a recent survey, which asked new students at Birmingham about their expectations, worries, and attitudes before arrival, 69% of respondents said they planned to work part-time. Of those planning to work 84% believed part-time work would help enhance their CV, but more than half felt they needed paid work to get through university.


As we enter 2012/13, with the increase in fees, the expectation is these results will inevitably change, though whether we will see an increase in students requiring work to fund university or less taking on employment to concentrate on achieving academic success is not yet known.


During the last academic year, the Guild’s Job Zone, which provides students with access to hundreds of part-time and temporary vacancies, helped more than a thousand students get paid work and as a result saw over £1.2 million of wages paid to students that year alone. All despite figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing the jobless rate for young people remaining above 20% and 80% of students polled in the NUS/HSBC Student Experience Survey stating the current economic climate ‘has made it more difficult to find work’.


In a time when the majority of final year students, 70%, are concerned about the current economic climate (NUS/HSBC Student Experience survey) the Guild maintains the importance of employability. Back in October, the students’ union held


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its first ‘How employable are you?’ fair which gave students the chance to meet employers, learn about internships and volunteering, and were given hands on advice about CVs and budgeting.


As a student employer itself the Guild employs 200 student staff which equates to £505,000 paid directly into students’ back pockets annually, and its Student Mentor Scheme last year won a Student Employee of the Year at the annual NASES’ Gold Awards.


Luke Reynolds, Vice President (Welfare) at the Guild of Students comments: “Student life has changed dramatically over the last decade, with more students taking on part-time employment, and we predict it will continue to do so as we welcome the 2012 cohort in September.


“Last year, the Job Zone worked with over 135 local employers to advertise hundreds of vacancies to the student body, provided students with CV advice and skills workshops to improve employability, and remains to do so this year.


“All jobs advertised are appropriate for students, which is particularly important when competition could, on some occasions, see students considering taking less reputable jobs to secure employment.


“As employability remains at the top of the agenda, our Job Zone not only helps students during their time at university through part-time and temporary placements, but the work our students secure through the Job Zone enables them to gain valuable experience and skills, equipping them for employment after graduation.”


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