Graduate jobs update
16 January 2009
Students seeking graduate jobs should start planning now.
Vacancies for graduates have fallen by 17 per cent since last summer and the Association of Graduate Recruiters has stressed that its members will be recruiting substantially fewer graduates in 2009 and 2010. That's why Terry Dray, Director of LJMU's Graduate Development Centre, is calling on students to take action now to improve their chances in the graduate market place.
"Competition for internships and jobs has never been greater. Graduates will need to be more geographically mobile to secure work and they may need to be flexible and consider lower level and less well paid work," says Terry. "Students will need to focus on their career sooner and be well organised. At LJMU we take student employability seriously. That's why we are encouraging students to get involved with WoW, record their graduate skills development and make the most of the work related learning opportunities, placements, volunteering and Ready for Work sessions that we offer."
He continued: "Some students continue to think they will be immune from the prevailing difficulties and that they'll achieve what others don't. Unfortunately the emerging evidence reinforces that current students must do all they can now while there is support within LJMU to assist them. Putting things off until tomorrow will be too late."
LJMU's programme of Ready for Work Career Essential sessions will be running at the Graduate Development Centre each month in 2009. Sessions include: CV preparation, writing applications, interview technique, telephone and customer skills, psychometric testing and much more.
The 4-stage WoW (world of work) pilot is also underway and there are still places for interested students. This will involve undertaking all or part of a process consisting of an online interview to identify evidence of employability skills, development workshops, writing a short profile and a final interview with an employer. For more information about the WoW pilot, go to http://vis.ljmu.ac.uk
Terry added: "Students who successfully complete the pilot will receive a WoW certificate that they can use as extra evidence to convince employers that they have the skills, experience and aptitude they are looking for. Students who want to discuss job seeking approaches, should contact the WoW Delivery Team Employability Advisers and Careers Advisers in the campus centres. We're here to help. LJMU students should take advantage of this excellent provision now."
For further information see www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow
