A recent report by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) could change the way applications for graduate training schemes are handled by recruiters, which could be good news for graduates. Traditionally, many recruiters have restricted their training scheme intake to graduates from Russel Group universities, leaving job seekers from other institutions to look elsewhere for vacancies.
The new research suggests that top students are now basing their university choices on the reputation of specific courses, rather than the university 'brand'. HECSU researchers, based at the University of Warwick, have created a new UCAS entry tariff based ranking system, ordering universities by their difficulty of entry. The new rankings aim to give a much better reflection of which institutions attract the best students.
The report encourages recruiters to change their recruitment processes to better reflect the changing landscape of higher education. Commenting on the outcome of the study, Jane Artress, director of research at HECSU says: "This strongly opposes current views by many employers that they can only find exceptional candidates from the Russell Group. This simply isn't the case - the net should be cast much wider."
Monday, 30 November 2009
Record graduate management scheme applications leads Waitrose to introduce psychometric tests
Supermarket chain Waitrose has introduced psychometric tests to its graduate scheme for the first time, after receiving 2,500 applications for just 20 places on its store management training programme. The retailer usually invites just 150 applicants to its assessment centre, but with the massive increase in graduates still seeking a career as a result of the recession, the chain has been forced to add an additional hurdle to its recruitment process.
Student jobs take precedent over turkey with 1 in 6 students working on Christmas day
Many students will be returning home for the festive period, but for the majority it won't be all mince pies and kisses under the mistletoe. New research by www.studentgems.com shows that 86 per cent of those surveyed will be working over the Christmas break and of those, 16 per cent of those will work at least 3 hours on Christmas day.
Part-time work has long been a part of the student lifestyle and part-time jobs can be a great way to build the skills and experience that graduate recruiters are looking for, but 93 per cent of those questioned said that the jobs they will work over Christmas are not relevant to their career path.
Part-time work has long been a part of the student lifestyle and part-time jobs can be a great way to build the skills and experience that graduate recruiters are looking for, but 93 per cent of those questioned said that the jobs they will work over Christmas are not relevant to their career path.
New graduate scheme to provide management jobs and training in the UK prison service
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is launching a graduate training programme this December. The scheme, which will begin in 2010, has a starting salary of £22,000, raising to over £30,000 after 12-18 months.
Graduates will go through initial training at the HM Prison Service Training Centre in Rugby to take on prison officer roles before moving in to managerial roles within the prison service. There will also be the opportunity of placements in NOMS HQ and the Ministry of Justice. Structured management training will be available throughout the 3 year training period.
The programme offers graduates the chance to make a difference to future prison policy and make a positive impact on the justice system. Jim Heavens, head of resourcing at NOMS explains: "We need graduates with the right resilience and empathy to take on this important challenge, and the rewards are the satisfaction of a career with major responsibility from the beginning, a job in which you can truly make a mark on society, and in addition a great benefits package." Applications open in mid-December with roles starting in October 2010. Candidates must have, or be expecting a 2.1. The application process will involve psychometric testing, an assessment scenario, a written paper and an interview.
Graduates will go through initial training at the HM Prison Service Training Centre in Rugby to take on prison officer roles before moving in to managerial roles within the prison service. There will also be the opportunity of placements in NOMS HQ and the Ministry of Justice. Structured management training will be available throughout the 3 year training period.
The programme offers graduates the chance to make a difference to future prison policy and make a positive impact on the justice system. Jim Heavens, head of resourcing at NOMS explains: "We need graduates with the right resilience and empathy to take on this important challenge, and the rewards are the satisfaction of a career with major responsibility from the beginning, a job in which you can truly make a mark on society, and in addition a great benefits package." Applications open in mid-December with roles starting in October 2010. Candidates must have, or be expecting a 2.1. The application process will involve psychometric testing, an assessment scenario, a written paper and an interview.
Sunday, 29 November 2009
New legal career option could ease graduate job competition
A career in wills and probate work could soon be an option for frustrated graduates seeking a job. From next year, qualified individuals will be able to offer will and probate services under the Legal Services Act 2007. In association with Edexcel, the newly-formed Fellowship of Professional Willwriters and Probate Professionals (FPWPP) has launched a BTEC providing a qualification route and has applied to become the regulator for probate activities.
Graduates of qualifying law degrees and the legal practice course will be exempted from stages of the qualification, making the course a tempting option for law graduates in the face of record levels of competition for traineeships.
The qualification is being piloted by Tom Mursell, founder of NotGoingToUni.co.uk, who will be writing a monthly blog on his experiences. Tom, 20, aims to become the youngest qualified willwriter in the country. Training is provided by FPWPP Training Specialists Ltd.
The willwriting profession is currently unregulated allowing anyone establish a willwriting business without any qualifications, leaving consumers unprotected. The FPWPP, along with the Legal Services Board, which regulates legal services in England and Wales, are lobbying the government to include willwriting within the Legal Services Act 2007 as a regulated activity. Probate work is a regulated profession meaning that only solicitors and public notaries can administer estates. The new qualification will open up the probate profession, improving customer choice and access to legal services.
Graduates of qualifying law degrees and the legal practice course will be exempted from stages of the qualification, making the course a tempting option for law graduates in the face of record levels of competition for traineeships.
The qualification is being piloted by Tom Mursell, founder of NotGoingToUni.co.uk, who will be writing a monthly blog on his experiences. Tom, 20, aims to become the youngest qualified willwriter in the country. Training is provided by FPWPP Training Specialists Ltd.
The willwriting profession is currently unregulated allowing anyone establish a willwriting business without any qualifications, leaving consumers unprotected. The FPWPP, along with the Legal Services Board, which regulates legal services in England and Wales, are lobbying the government to include willwriting within the Legal Services Act 2007 as a regulated activity. Probate work is a regulated profession meaning that only solicitors and public notaries can administer estates. The new qualification will open up the probate profession, improving customer choice and access to legal services.
Unpaid work experience costs UK students and graduate job seekers £214m a year
Students and graduates doing unpaid work experience have lost out on £214m in wages in the last year.
The graduate job search is becoming increasingly difficult in the face of recession and record levels of competition, making experience an increasingly important factor. As such, 1 in 5 students have done an unpaid work placement in the last 12 months. This adds up to 44,500,000 man-hours worked for free, saving employers £214m pounds according to recent research commissioned by www.studentgems.com. Not only does this leave students out of pocket, it's also illegal as the law states that the national minimum wage must be paid for any kind of work.
Relevant work experience is one of the best ways to improve your CV and make you more attractive to employers, but you don't need to become a slave to get it. Sue Harrison, co-founder of studentgems.com says: "Simply put, if you have the skills, there are employers who want to hear from you who won’t rip you off."
It's the graduate jobseeker's catch 22 - employers aren't interested if you don't have experience, but without a job how can you get it? One way to make use of your skills, build experience and get paid a fair wage is to sign up to www.studentgems.com. This free site allows you to advertise your skills to prospective employers, search for paid roles posted by employers and contact them in a safe and secure way - allowing you to boost your CV and earn some decent cash while doing it.
You can find out more about your employment rights on the government's website.
The graduate job search is becoming increasingly difficult in the face of recession and record levels of competition, making experience an increasingly important factor. As such, 1 in 5 students have done an unpaid work placement in the last 12 months. This adds up to 44,500,000 man-hours worked for free, saving employers £214m pounds according to recent research commissioned by www.studentgems.com. Not only does this leave students out of pocket, it's also illegal as the law states that the national minimum wage must be paid for any kind of work.
Relevant work experience is one of the best ways to improve your CV and make you more attractive to employers, but you don't need to become a slave to get it. Sue Harrison, co-founder of studentgems.com says: "Simply put, if you have the skills, there are employers who want to hear from you who won’t rip you off."
It's the graduate jobseeker's catch 22 - employers aren't interested if you don't have experience, but without a job how can you get it? One way to make use of your skills, build experience and get paid a fair wage is to sign up to www.studentgems.com. This free site allows you to advertise your skills to prospective employers, search for paid roles posted by employers and contact them in a safe and secure way - allowing you to boost your CV and earn some decent cash while doing it.
You can find out more about your employment rights on the government's website.
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