Are companies cutting Graduate Recruitment?

Michael Rendell, head of human resource services at PwC states in a recent article...

"Companies have learned not to cut graduate recruitment. Several big companies are offering this year’s graduates an unpaid gap year."

He says social network websites mean that “knowledge of employment practices moves around quickly” so employers cutting their schemes are soon identified by potential graduates."

Read full article

‘GET REAL’ TO COMBAT JOBS UNCERTAINTY SAY GRADUATES

In recent times students graduating from university have benefited from a buoyant jobs market but it seems that tougher times lie ahead for those planning to enter the world of work in 2009 as a result of the credit crunch and global economic uncertainty.

Whilst it is too early to accurately predict what the jobs market will look like next year, the Graduate Recruitment Bureau set out to gauge the mood of this year’s graduate job seekers. A survey of graduates on the GRB database revealed fascinating insights into their mind sets and an imaginative list of top tips for others hunting for jobs in the same tightening market.

High on the list of things to do were:
Lower your sights in the short-term
Apply early
Be flexible over such things as location, pay, career choice and contract terms
Try to gain work experience in your chosen career area even if this means working for nothing
Differentiate yourself from the masses by brushing up your interview skills and undertaking thorough research into the sector and firms you are applying to
Network like mad by registering with agencies, attending recruitment and careers fairs and using friends and family contacts. But, they warn, under no account just sit at home and do your research on the web (useful as that is)

The survey results suggest that graduates are being pragmatic and realistic about their prospects. They know it will be hard to land that dream job and it may take longer than normal to achieve their goals. If at first they don’t succeed they are prepared to look at alternative routes, including:

Unpaid work experience
Voluntary work
Postgraduate courses of study
Gaining further qualifications and skills though training
Temporary work
Taking a year out

A fair degree of stoicism showed through in the responses, as suggested by advice to:

Be patient and persevere – stay positive
Maintain your confidence levels
Learn from missed opportunities
Be the best you can be but never think you are too good for anything
Don’t let rejections get you down
Never, ever give up!
Understanding yourself, your values, interests and motivations.

The respondents could hardly be accused of hypocrisy! Asked to describe their own attitude towards successfully securing the career of their choice
· 31% said they were being realistic
· 28% said they were optimistic
· A further 20% described themselves as confident
· Only 18% felt they were being pessimistic.

Alternative strategies being employed to achieve their goals included:
· Working overseas (6%)
· Working for free (7%)
· Travelling further afield (12%)
· Being more flexible (16%)
· Revising career goals (9%)
· Lowering expectations 7%)
· Returning to study (7%).

This generation of graduate job seekers are also willing to network and seek support wherever they can find it. Sources of help included:
· Recruitment agencies (67%)
· Family and friends (42%)
· Graduate recruitment directories (44%)
· Job centres (33%)
· Recruitment fairs (33%)
· University careers services (45%)
· Web resources (50%)

Only 3.5% of the sample declared that they were going it alone.
When asked why the graduate jobs market was tightening, the respondents were divided in apportioning blame. 15% blamed the global economic climate and a further 9% blamed the UK climate. 14%, said there were too many graduates and a further 10% felt there were too few graduate jobs to go round. 12% blamed their university for not doing enough to prepare them while 4% blamed themselves for not having started their job search early enough. A further 10% admitted there were not enough graduate jobs in the region they were looking for work in. Employers did not entirely escape criticism with 13% claiming that employers were setting too high standards.
Commenting on the survey results, GRB co-founder Dan Hawes said “Who better to ask about job seeking strategies in a recession than those at the sharp end? Running a graduate recruitment consultancy, I can identify with the sentiments expressed by those going through the process of seeking their first ‘real’ job at this time. It isn’t easy in the present climate but as our respondents have clearly shown, they are refusing to concede defeat and are facing up to the challenges in a realistic, positive and down to earth way.”
Notes:

1.The survey of 368 UK based graduates on the GRB database was conducted in October 2008. 52% were male. 71% had achieved either a first on a 2:1 degree class. The vast majority had already graduated but a small number of final students also contributed.

2.Dan Hawes, co-founder, is available for interview and can be contacted on 01273 200411, 07769 975917 or d.hawes@grb.uk.com

3.Graduate Recruitment Bureau (GRB) can offer a range of services to fulfill all of your graduate recruitment needs. From Search and Selection to Online Advertising we offer you choice and flexibility.Since 1997 we have been helping graduate recruiters, large and small, meet their hiring targets. Our CV database covers students and graduates from the Times Top 30 Universities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math’s, Legal, Language, Business, Economics, Accounting, Marketing and Humanities degrees with 2.1s or higher and strong A Levels. We have two main services to attract and hire graduates- Search and Selection and Online Advertising.Search and Selection - Our team of Recruitment Consultants specialise in different sectors and take a detailed brief from each client. We then search for suitable candidates from our extensive CV database, screen and introduce the best candidate CVs. Our services have been used by graduate recruiters to fill places on graduate schemes, ad-hoc roles, shortfall and hard to fill vacancies requiring a degree.Online Advertising - Our award winning website enables graduate recruiters to attract high calibre graduates to their vacancies. With in-house design and performance metric reporting this service is an excellent branding opportunity and highly targeted recruitment marketing campaign.

4. GRB Quick Facts
-200, 000 registered job seeking students and graduates from all disciplines and all UK universities
-47% from the Times Top 30 Universities
-30,000 graduated in 2008
-16,500 graduating in 2009
-40,000 unique visits a month on our award-winning website www.grb.uk.com
-Established in 1997 by two graduates
-Several blue chip clients and fast growing SMEs
-AGR and REC member

10 benefits of a recession for graduate job seekers...

Recessions can mean tough times for a lot of people but can also carry benefits. Some benefits of a recession for graduate jobs seekers are...

- It makes you more creative and consider different careers.
- It makes you look at SME employers instead of some "traditional" London-based firms which are cutting back.
- It makes you realise you can't take your current job for granted.
- It makes you think-twice about buying more "stuff" that is non-essential.
- It makes you think harder about what you can offer an employer.
- It stops complacency and creates a sense of urgency.
- It brings you back to the basics - you need a job to pay the bills.
- It forces you to make tough decisions - enter the job market or take further study?
- It is an agent for change.
- It causes you to be less wasteful - why commute by car when the train will suffice.

Making Light of a Tightening Market

If newspaper headlines are to believed "Class of 2008 head for home as the career ladder is pulled away" (The Times, 04.10.08), job prospects for graduates in 2008 were dreadful. If what has happened to the stock market since then is anything to go by, then prospects for graduates in 2009 are going to be even worse!

However, the same newspaper ran another graduate jobs story in mid September with the headline "The boom has burst but the job market for newcomers is still bucking the trend".
Confused? Given the conflicting headlines and the speed at which things are happening in the global economy at the moment that's understandable.

Should you be worried as well as confused? What is the truth when it comes to job prospects for graduates this year and should Class of 2009 be worried about what is going to happen to them? And what can you do to improve your prospects?

See full article by Carl Gilleard (Chief Executive of The Association of Graduate Recruiters - AGR)

The hands have it

Interesting snippet from today's FT written by Emma Jacobs on the importance of a firm handshake. We all know body language can give different signals and it is important to give out positive vibes especially in an interview. According to research by the University of Iowa interviewees with a firm handshake are "far more likely" to get the job than candidate with a limp handshake. They found it was more noticed than the dress or physical appearance of a candidate. Women especially benefit from a firmer handshake so now you know - get practising!

Student Housing –vs- Halls of Residence

Student accommodation comes in the form of halls of residence, student homes, student flats or student houses, but which is the best?

This completely depends on the university, the conditions of the halls of residence and the student housing in the local area. Some students are luckier than others but there are increasing amounts of landlords taking advantage of the student market and therefore increasing the choice and the standard of student housing. Of course the price and value for money is important factor and again differs depending on university and location.

Halls of residence carry the advantage of allowing students to be close to 100’s of other fellow students but there are other ‘external student properties’ that offer this advantage now including London's Nido building, which has been described as a 'campus-in-a-box'.

Resisdents include students typically from Imperial College, London School of Economics (LSE), University College London (UCL), City University and King’s College. Although they are from different universities the residents still have the ‘communal experience’ students get on campus and in halls of residence.

For information on halls of residents at your University it is best to see their website or contact them directly and for student housing see Accommodation for Students.

Best Graduate Bank Accounts

Many banks offer student accounts whilst you are studying with interest free overdrafts but not all of them transfer into a graduate account automatically when you graduate and you could end up with a stack of chargers if you are not careful. So which Graduate Bank Account is best for you?

Read more ar GRB News and Views.

Taking Time Out

There seems to be a myth around that if you graduate and don’t go straight into a graduate training scheme you have blown your chances. In other words, if you graduated in 2007, 2006 or earlier, you are ineligible to apply for a graduate programme in 2008.

This is simply untrue. Most employers welcome applications from anyone and any age so long as they have the right skills, personal attributes and motivation. And don’t forget, age legislation in employment makes it illegal for employers to discriminate on grounds of age.

Where this myth comes from is anyone’s guess. However, it is a dangerous assumption to make even by those graduating in 2008. You may have a desire to take a year out but don’t want to jeopardise your career prospects. Or you may decide to take that highly paid temporary job to pay off your student debts before concentrating on your longer term career. Either way, you will not damage your prospects of getting on to a graduate programme by doing something else before applying for career jobs. In fact, your life experience during the ‘time out’ may actually make you a stronger candidate.

This is the real point – it is not what you do but what you learn from the experience that makes the difference. I get asked time and again if a gap year is a good thing to do. My answer is always the same –YES! But then comes the rider – it does depend on how much the individual learns from the experience.

When I was a graduate recruiter, back in the good old days, I would see lots of job seekers who had taken a year out before applying for graduate posts. After asking them to describe what they had done I would move on to ask what they had learnt and then quiz them as to how they might apply what they had learnt to the job they were applying for. Easy, I can hear you say. Well yes, you would think so but time and again candidates let themselves down by not being able to get past describing what they had done and sometimes even that was a struggle.

What these candidates had failed to apply was the skill of reflective learning. It is something I do most days on my way home from work – on the train, in the car or walking to the station. What had I set out to do, how close had I come to achieving my objectives, what prevented me from completing them and what had I learnt that I could apply on another day? It only takes a few minutes but the process, once you master it, can be applied to a whole variety of settings and it helps me to understand myself better.

This has two main benefits. Firstly, knowing yourself helps you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and that is important in terms of organising your career. You can also do something about tackling your weaknesses. Secondly, knowing yourself helps you to feel more comfortable with yourself so that when you are asked searching questions about yourself, such as in a job selection process, you have the confidence to respond. Don’t forget, often the interviewer is more interested in how you answer the questions rather than what you actually say.

So, if you have taken some time out don’t just think about what you did but focus on what you learnt. Capture those thoughts and when you make that all important job application, make sure you can articulate what added value your experience gave you. And if you are about to launch yourself into an activity that does not fit the traditional career path, ensure you do the same. One way of doing this is to record your experiences in a diary or logbook.

I recall spending some time on a ferry from Manley to Darling Harbour in Sydney with two UK graduates who were coming to the end of a round the world trip. One of them was really worried about how his travels would look on a job application form when he returned to the UK. In fact, he was quite gloomy about it. His girlfriend had no such qualms. She rattled off a whole list of skills she had gained from the experience – planning, budgeting, fund raising, a host of short-term service jobs, foreign languages and understanding cultural differences. She went on to mention ‘coping strategies’ at which point I was so impressed by her self awareness I almost offered her a job there and then!

Two people, one experience, but very different outcomes. I know which outcome I would prefer, don’t you?

Carl Gilleard
Chief Executive
The Association of Graduate Recruiters

Earn While You Learn?

More and more students appear to work part-time whilst at university but for most students it is for financial reasons and not to gain relevant experience for future employment. Many students find work in high street shops, bars and restaurants and some in more office based roles.

It is advisable to try and obtain a job in a relevant area to your degree but this is not always possible and it appears that experience is increasingly not the priority. Laura Howard wrote an article in The Guardian quoting, "An estimated 792,000 full-time UK undergraduates - two-thirds of the total - will have to spend valuable time away from their academic work to earn cash not just to survive student life but to deal with the impact of inflation on rising rents, food, household bills and travel."

It is not just term-time work that students are looking for either as The Guardian states, "Research published last week by Halifax also showed that almost half the students surveyed (41 per cent) said they now worked over the summer as well as holding down a term-time job, while 18 per cent held down two jobs or even more."

Do you have to work part-time and/or during holidays to survive your time at university?

Read Full Article from The Guardian

Have your say - journalist seeks student views for article.

Kate Hilpern (Journalist) is looking for students to interview for her article. See her message below for more details...

Following this week's news that people are increasingly naming their parents as their agent on their UCAS form, I am working on an article for the Guardian newspaper on parents' growing involvement in their adult offspring's lives. Some accompany their son or daughter to induction day; others go to careers fairs with them; some go to job interviews; others call up their offspring's employers. I'm interested in talking to people whose parents have a strong involvement in their lives. The purpose is not to criticise the trend - indeed, many people welcome parents' growing interest and see it simply as a reaction to how friendly we are with our children these days. Others find it a bit suffocating. I would welcome hearing from you by email - with a view to interviewing you on the phone before Wednesday, when I have to write the article. Please contact me at KHilpern@aol.com

Going through Clearing?

Clearing is a process of matching applicants with courses and enables over 30,000 people every year to find a place on a course. People may use Clearing if they have not withdrawn an application and hold no offers from any courses due to not meeting the requirements, declining offers or applying late.

So, how do you ensure you find the right course through Clearing?

The University Blog recommend Ten Top Tips.

UCAS provide advice on how to apply for Clearing and your options.

There is also some useful information in The Independent

University of Oxford plan to boost admissions from poorer students

Oxford and Cambridge Universities are the top universities in the UK and therefore the hardest to get into but is it just the grade requirements that it make it so difficult? Apparently not as a study carries out last year showed that students from top private schools were twice as likely to get into Oxford and Cambridge irrespective of their A-level results.

To move away from this elitist reputation Oxford will try to boost admissions from from poorer students by identifying their postcodes.

The Telegraph states, "In addition to looking at a candidate's postcode, Oxford will also collect four more pieces of "publicly available" information - the performance of applicants' schools in both GCSEs and A-Levels, whether a pupil looked after or spent time in care, and it they attended specific programmes for disadvantaged children. Candidates who are flagged up in three categories out of the five - and are academically strong enough - will be guaranteed an interview at Oxford, although not necessarily an offer."

The Telegraph found that the decision has been met with anger from educationalists.

What are your thoughts on this?

Is the credit crunch affecting University choice?

At this time of year students are making those final and vital decisions on where to go to university. There are many factors that influence their decision such as the course, the university rank and the location but is this rise in rent affecting their choices?

accommodationforstudents.com shows that students can expect to pay nearly £40 more a month on rent than 4 years ago and it is predicted to increase due to the credit crunch and The Guardian discusses the student rent increases further.

Has the credit crunch affected your university choice?

Lowest Graduate Unemployment for 5 Years!

According to BBC News Graduates have the lowest unemployment rate for five years. There appears to be a trend of those graduates with the lowest degree grades having the worst unemployment rate and also computer science and creative arts graduates having the highest unemployment rates.

What are the reasons for this reduction in unemployment? Are there more employable graduates in the market or more graduate employers or both?

Read full article

Should your research start at the library or Google?

An interesting post was made on The University Blog discussing whether using Google as an information portal for research helps or hinders students. Many students use Google for all of their research and although this allows access to thousands if not millions of sources it is argued that it is still one entity when carrying out research. Does Google provide too much information and should students stick to the literature stored in the library?

Silly mistakes can cost you your career!

It is tough enough to get through some application processes when applying for graduate jobs but it can be made even harder by making silly mistakes. Our co-Founder was quoted on this issue in a recent article in The Times and our consultants have provided some examples of mistakes they have witnessed.

Have you made any mistakes or do you have advice for others on this issue?

How do graduates find work?

I was recently invited by the BBC to appear on a live interview from Birmingham University about what graduates can do to find work.

See the attached clips and leave any comments below.

Is paying off your student loan more important than pursuing your dream career?

Would you sacrifice your dream job for a job that allows you to clear your debts quicker? Lots of graduates pursue the career they have been working towards but many don't, some settle for anything with a higher salary even if it is not in their preferred field.

Read full article on the Graduate Recruitment Bureau's news page.

What are your priorities when seeking a graduate job?

How honest is your CV?

Research suggests that graduates from higher ranked universities, have more truthful CVs than students from lower ranked universities. Maths graduates appear to be the most honest and graduates with arts and humanities degrees are the least honest. Graduates may feel it is necessary to exaggerate their achievements to secure a graduate job. They may also feel that they can get away with it but when it gets to interview stages how will these graduates compare to those who have not had to lie?

Read full article

Would you lie on your CV for your dream job?

Source: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9860034a-56b1-11dd-8686-000077b07658.html

Recruiters have more graduate vacancies!

Graduate recruiters have over 10% more graduate vacancies in 2008 than last year but the competition is still high. The AGR (Association of Graduate Recruiters) survey showed that this year the finance sector has the most vacancies but vacancies in the FMCG sector have the most competition, with 112 applicants per vacancy. Although the finance sector has the most vacancies, it does not have the most applications per vacancy therefore statistically it is ‘easier’ to get a graduate job in finance than with a FMCG company.

Are you finding the competition fierce when it comes to securing a graduate job?

View sectors with the most vacancies and the average number of applicants per vacancy within these sectors.

Source: http://www.agr.org.uk/

Should 2:2 degrees be considered by graduate employers?

More graduate recruiters are considering candidates with 2:2 degrees according to a survey reported on by The Telegraph…Graduate recruiters are dropping their minimum requirement of a 2:1 degree, claiming it can no longer be relied upon as a benchmark of high academic achievement. Until now a 2:1 had been the cut-off mark for jobs at major British companies, but recruiters are now finding a 2:2 from an Oxbridge university is as good as a first-class degree from a third-rank university.A survey of 242 companies, employing nearly 24,000 graduates, found a third are prepared to look at applicants with a 2:2, compared to only a quarter last year.Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), said: "Employers have not abandoned degree classification overnight, but there is a growing awareness that graduates have other things to offer. If you use a hard and fast cut-off at 2:1 you might miss out."

Do you think 2:2 degrees should be considered?

Read full article

Sorry Sir Alan, I’m Sick!

Lee McQueen, winner of hit TV show ‘The Apprentice’ was due to start his £100,000 job yesterday but his 1st day did not go as well as expected, in fact he never made it to the office. Lee had to call in sick on his first due to an illness he picked up whilst in Spain last week.

A spokesman said that he is frustrated that he can’t be at work and will be starting in a few days.

Would you call in sick on your first day? How do you think Sir Alan would react?

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/07/02/bcnappre102.xml

Do you want a Green Career?

The Times have created a ‘Green List’ detailing the most environmentally friendly companies to work for. In order to compile this list The Times set up a competition to find companies that are environmentally aware and are actively improving their environmental performance, many of these are graduate recruiters. A company’s environmental performance has been an increasingly important factor to graduates when seeking employment. How important is it to you when seeking a graduate career?

View The Green List at The Times Online

Lectures on iTunes

Universities in the UK are starting to provide lectures through iTunes. Students will be able to download educational content and recap on lectures at anytime on their iPod.

Read full article here.

Taking a Gap Year?

There are two main routes that graduates choose from upon graduating; getting a job or taking a gap year. Some graduates are chomping at the bit to make a start on their career whereas others chose to take some time out before settling into a graduate job. Gap years although sometimes more of an extended holiday can actually help your employability depending on what your gap year invloves. Gap years can be about seeing the world, experiencing different cultures, meeting people, embarking on extreme sports and gaining invaluable experiences. There are many structured gap years created to provide graduates or school leavers with invaluable experience to both themselves and to future employers. The key to gaining this ‘invaluable experience’ is to work abroad either via an internship or an international community or environmental project.


Read more about gap years and find information on specific work schemes at: The Independent

Do lucky pants improve your chances?

Six in 10 interview candidates wear lucky pants to ease them through an interview, according to new research.

The research, by employment law firm Peninsula, found that 84% adorn themselves with a ‘lucky’ item, with six in 10 opting for lucky pants. Advice is also taken from a horoscope reading of the day for 73% of respondents.

See the top 10 lucky charms at GRB- The Knowledge

What are your views on lucky charms?

What makes a good candidate?

It takes more than simply graduating to obtain a graduate job. There are over 400,000 students due to graduate this Summer and the graduate job market can be very competitive, so how do you stand out from the rest?

Read on at The Graduate Recruitment Bureau

Thinking about Summer?

With all the hot weather lately it feels like Summer has arrived but for many Summer doesn't start until exams are over and then it's time to relax... or is it?

Do you use your Summer months to work or paly? There are many options avaiable to students such as work experience, travel or study abroad schemes.

How will you be spending your Summer?

For information on getting a summer placement or studying abroad see GRB - The Knowledge

Favourite Graduate Recruiters...

The most popular new graduate employer is Apple according to a recent survey. So what makes the creators of the iPod so popular in the graduate market? Is it thier graduate opportunities, salaries, company and brand image, or all of the above?

The top 10 most popular graduate employers vary across industries, so why are they all so popular?

Read more at the knowledge

University Police Force?

The University of Oxford is employing a public police force to patrol around the colleges. The university is funding half of the £120,000 per year cost. Do you have ‘university police’ at your uni? What are your thoughts on this?

Read more at The Knowledge

Plagiarism – Think before you write!

On 14th April 2008 the famous Harry Potter writer J.K Rowling was in a New York Court over plagiarism issues as Steve Vander Ark has written an A-Z guide on Harry Potter Lexicon…(read more)

Plagiarism is presenting somebody else’s ideas as your own without acknowledging the source. Plagiarism is a huge issue and is illegal in the commercial world and it can get you thrown out of university so be careful what you write!

For information and advice on avoiding plagiarism see GRB – The Knowledge

Does size matter?

Would you rather work for a large or small company? The majority of graduates traditionally associate graduate jobs with large blue-chip companies but this view appears to be changing. Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME’s) are becoming an increasingly attractive option as graduates are considering the benefits. Here at the graduate recruitment bureau we have placed 1000’s of graduates, many of which in SME’s.

Does size matter to you?

Should graduate jobs be advertised on Facebook?

It is becoming apparent that companies are having an increasing presence on social networking sites such as Facebook. We (www.grb.uk.com) work with many graduate recruiters and have found that targeted advertising campaigns through social networking sites are not the most successful method of attracting candidates. Is this because people are not in the ‘job-hunting’ frame of mind when on these sites or do they simply not notice the ad?

Please leave your comments …

Are Graduate Career Fairs effective?

There has been some hype in media this week about the digital world taking over Careers Fairs with so many online job-boards and virtual careers fairs on offer online. I have always found that graduate career fairs are a very effective method of graduate recruitment. We (www.grb.uk.com) attend graduate career fairs all over the UK signing graduates up to hear about our clients vacancies. Attending careers fairs promotes a companies brand and graduate vacancies face-to-face which cannot be achieved on-line. The fairs benefit students and graduates as they can speak directly to employers and get a feel for the companies recruiting

To read more about this see The knowledge.

Ensure your career move is Right!

In the world of graduate recruitment, job-hunters trying to secure their perfect career shouldn't discount the possibility of relocation.

Click here for more info > http://www.grb.uk.com/448.0.html?&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=966&tx_ttnews[uid]=966&cHash=4940553403

£33,512

Did you know £33,512 is the cost of a three year degree course? According to a survey by NatWest Student Money Matters this has risen by £5000 since 2007. How are students paying for this? Well, parents have traditionally helped out and cheap credit has helped to ease the financial burden but more and more students are resorting to part time jobs or even internships so they can afford to have a social life. How are you coping?

Sponsor Me!

Hi

I am raising £1,300 to help homeless people by cycling from London to Paris in July. I would be extremely grateful if you could give what you can to this good cause. Please visit my BIG ISSUE sponsorship page here to make a donation:

http://www.justgiving.com/danhawes

Thank you

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There are plenty of graduate jobs out there!

Despite the doom and gloom being reported in the financial press there are still many firms with vacancies to fill. This recent survey asked over 600 UK based companies what they thought would be the biggest challenge for 2008. Click below for more info;

http://www.internationalbusinessreport.com/Press-room/2008/Business-constraints.asp

Make your dissertation work for you

Thoughts of graduate recruitment might be far from your mind at the moment, especially if you are a finalist toiling over your dissertation - but the work you are doing now could play a pivotal part in securing you a job when you graduate.

Your final year project will be the most in-depth piece of work you do towards your degree. You might have picked a subject that you are particularly interested in, or a topic you are confident dealing with. Therefore, when you graduate, your dissertation could say a great deal about your studies and the skills and knowledge you acquired.

When you begin to apply for jobs, the 'education' section of your CV shouldn't read like a list of institutions; you should draw out the transferable skills you have learnt during your time at uni. Even if your dissertation topic is relatively obscure to anyone who hasn't studied your degree, organising a project of that scale will show an employer that you have time management skills, the ability to think analytically and self-motivation.

Kate, a marketing graduate from Coventry University, focused on the effects of advertising on children for her dissertation. She says: "I now work in a marketing environment, although I am not advertising to children. However, at my first interview my employer was impressed by the detailed work I had done on the subject. Also, it was a topic I was quite happy talking about in the interview - I think it really helped me get the job."

If you are a job-hunter and you haven't yet included any information on your CV about your dissertation, then it might be worth adding a few words about your project and what you learnt in the process.

Has your dissertation helped you in your job search? Or are you a finalist wishing you never had to read the thing again? Leave your comments below;

A satisfied customer

GRB place graduates every day. We can spend all day telling students how great we are but what really counts is the proof of the pudding so here's what a graduate said yesterday about our service;

"Many thanks for your help in the process, it was refreshing to be involved with an agency who treat you like a person. Initially I had recruitment job pencilled in as a bit of a back up option but now I have chosen it over things I thought I'd much prefer - there are a few reasons for this, one being the quality of clients that you presented to me and also rather significantly the way I saw you guys work. When I was a teacher the best way to learn was to watch other good teachers and the experience I had with your consultants showed me there were credible people in the industry. You asked me how I found the service when we met up, I have had a think about why it was better than some other agencies....
-Very personable
-The ability to always sound delighted to hear from me
-Calibre of clients
-I never felt like I was being sold anything even though I was
-Took time to understand need/person-Genuinely good advice
- I would not have this position without it
-Ability to articulate the merits of recruitment to a total sceptic
-Honest

Tips for doing an effective presentation

Sometimes while in the process of trying to get a graduate job you may be asked by an employer to give a presentation. To make sure it goes smoothly read our top tips here.

Always be prepared!

You will have heard this before but the essential ingredient to the success of any presentation is thorough preparation. Effective preparation can limit almost every daunting aspect of your presentation and will reduce your uncertainty of those nagging questions, such as;

- Will I appear fluent and confident
- Will they be interested
- And, will I be able to hold their attention

The five essential rules when making a presentation are;
1. Know your subject
2. Be sincere
3. Be convinced that your message is worthwhile and that your audience will benefit from it
4. Be enthusiastic
5. Be self-confident

These are all things that will result from thorough preparation. The more you rehearse your presentation the more familiar you will become with the content. You will have continually made improvements so that you know the final version is good and should therefore feel you have the enthusiasm and confidence with which to present it.

However, knowing how and what to prepare is often part of the problem.

Put yourself in the position of the audience. Be selective with the material you include. What are the main points that they most want to hear' Emphasise these points through your intonation as it is easier to attract attention by the way you say things rather than what you are saying.

Practice your intonation and facial gestures to convey enthusiasm. If you don't appear interested in what you're speaking about, your audience won't either.

Write down key words in your notes that mean something to you and will jog your memory, but don't be tempted to simply write out your whole speech. This makes your notes difficult to follow and tempts you to simply 'read aloud' making you sound mono-toned, allowing no eye contact with the audience, so you appear unconfident.

If appropriate, encourage audience participation as this will give an extra dimension to your presentation and increase the attention span of your audience.

Familiarise yourself with any equipment and visual aids you may be using. Test out the slide projector, make sure the OHP is clearly focussed, and ensure the video is rewound to the right place. If any technical hitches occur, they may not be your fault but they will cause you delays and embarrassment.

When writing your notes, try to divide your presentation into sections to make them easier to follow. Highlight the key words you have chosen to aid your memory, so that you can see them quickly and clearly.

You should aim to be able to give your presentation without any notes, but have them there simply as a back up. This will enable you to maintain eye contact with the audience and use hand and facial gestures, demonstrating your subject knowledge, confidence and professionalism.

Before you make the presentation, practise. Ask someone to listen to you. What you believe to be a logical argument may need clarification or adjustment to appear so to others.

Consider the factors that may lead people to 'switch off', these include;
Boredom: what is said is neither relevant nor interesting
Depth of content: depth given by the presentation is more/less than audience expected. Understanding: content of the presentation is too advanced/too basic for the audience.

You therefore need to determine questions such as;
- Is the content completely relevant to the subject on which I am presenting
- What is the purpose of the presentation
- How much information does the audience require
- What will the audience understand - should I use jargon or not

Critically evaluate your performance after the event and consider what changes you would make if you were to do the presentation again.

Try to think about good presentations you've seen other people give. What factors made them so impressive' How could you incorporate these elements into your presentation'.

Graduates with good degrees and poor A level results

A question we often get asked by candidates is whether or not poor A level results will affect graduates with good degrees to get a job. Catherine Quinn examines this issue in her piece in the Rise section of the Guardian.

With final exams looming, many university students are concerned about landing graduate posts with larger employers. Apprehension often centres around the extra requirements these companies are now seeking. Blue-chip graduate employers are asking for something besides the standard 2:1 degree - they are calling for a minimum 24 points at A level.

This is unwelcome news for graduates such as Rich Abrahms who went to a state school and college in Colchester. Despite not realising his potential at A level, he went on to gain a 2:1 in astrophysics at the University of Southampton.

"I'm looking for a graduate job at the moment, but most of the big recruiters require 24 points at A level," he says. "I am considering retaking an A level, because having finished my degree it would be so easy for me to just retake physics. I don't think I'd even have to really revise. But it seems so ridiculous to have to do that when my degree clearly shows that my physics is above A level standard."

Steven Rolls is the director for resourcing at Ernst & Young - a global firm of accountants whose graduate scheme carries a 24 point minimum. Why does he use these extra selection criteria' "The problem we have is that we get lots and lots of applications. We are looking for applicants who will pass exams with us and go on to be successful with clients. Our research shows us that a good indicator of those who do well in our exams are graduates who have gained between 22 and 24 points at A level."

Graduates who feel cheated by this selection process may have a fair case. Recent findings suggest that A level performance can be more indicative of privileged schooling than actual ability. Robin Naylor is researcher in economics at the University of Warwick. His investigations indicate that A levels are an inaccurate determinate of ability in comparison to degree result.

"Our research shows a difference in the A level performance of people from what are seen as less privileged (that is, state) schools. For those people, A level scores seem to underestimate their potential. Universities which take other factors, such as type of school, into account are justified by our research. This is not just a political point about widening participation. From a hard-nosed angle of simply picking the most talented students, universities would be justified in offering lower entrance grades to pupils from state schools."

These findings have already had an effect on university selection procedures. Bristol University now operates a widening participation campaign, which it believes will ensure them the best students. "

We regard A level performance as an important indicator of academic performance," says Barry Taylor, director of communications for the University of Bristol. "But we don't feel they are the be all and end all. We consider the context in which the person has been educated and the personal qualities and commitment of the person. We know that people with the best academic abilities exist in every corner of society, and we believe it is our duty to look for this ability wherever it exists."

But the research also seriously undermines the tactics of recruiters who use A levels to evaluate candidates. As Robin Naylor explains: "Our research also indicates that university performance is a better indicator of merit than school performance. There is one exception in that maths at A level seems to be an indicator of ability that is not necessarily overruled by degree performance. Recruiters might well be justified in taking this subject into account."

In terms of all other subjects, however, Robin is keen to point out the unfairness of graduate recruiters using A level grades. "It's counting twice. If A levels are counted once to get in to university and again at recruitment level, it does look unfair. Our research also indicates that schooling also seems to have an effect on recruitment, even though the statistics show that a degree is a better indicator of ability. Using A level grades for recruitment risks penalising people who have made up for a poor start."

What does big business think of these results' "The major problem is that we get around 12,000 applicants for a relatively small number of positions," says Ernst & Young's Steven Rolls. "We have to introduce fairly stringent criteria, otherwise we'd just drown under the weight of paperwork. Someone who hasn't done as well in their A levels is not going to get through our selection process - but, we do also take on experienced hires. We employ a number of graduates who have worked their way up in other companies."

A spokesperson for Capital One explains why some parts of the company demand a 26 point minimum A level standard. "The reason why we use A level points in selection is to do with the level of ability we are looking for. We, like many other recruiters, are looking to recruit the best of the best. We are also looking for candidates who are going to achieve a 2:1 at degree, and we make an offer before they achieve this. A levels are an indicator of students achieving a 2:1. Our research shows that the vast number of the employees we take on at graduate level have gained between 22 and 26 points at A level. In terms of research indicating the insignificance of A level points, we haven't seen it, so we couldn't comment on it."

State school graduates may have further cause for concern. Additional research by Robin Naylor also indicates a lack of equality in the workplace. His findings demonstrate that despite degree performance, employability is still advantaged by independent schooling. Whether this is partly due to attention paid by recruiters to A level results has not been proved, but it certainly can't disadvantage those from independent schools.

On a more positive note, around half of graduate recruiters don't have a UCAS point minimum. Alex Snelling, graduate recruitment manager at L'Oreal, explains the cosmetics giant's criteria. "We always take a broader view, looking not only at a candidate's education but also their work experience, participation in university societies or sports. We take into account the full spectrum of areas where they might have demonstrated their skills."

So, at least some recruiters make a fair appraisal of graduate skills - because, as L'Oreal would say, you're worth it.

The power of recall

Want to read faster and digest it all? An article by Barbara Oaff suggests seven ways you can remember more. Wouldn't it be great if you could read faster and remember more. Just imagine the possibilities. As a student you would be able to race through the reading list - and recall useful passages in your assignment. As a job seeker you would be able to blitz all that 'interview research' - and, when prompted, make intelligent comments about the company, its industry and its prospects. Sounds impressive and it's not impossible. You can teach yourself to read faster and recall more. We show you how (appropriately, we do this in just seven steps and 764 words):

1 Determine your ideal reading conditions. If you don't already know, find out when your concentration level is at it's highest - in the morning, in the afternoon, or sometime after dark' Try to open up the pages or click on to the website at this time. And try to do it in a place that is conducive. Some people have to be somewhere quiet. Others find silence deafening and distracting. You may be most disciplined at a desk. Your friend may prefer the comfort of the sofa. Of course it may not always be possible to read when and where it best suits you. But if you can, it will help you to absorb and store more information more quickly.

2 Before you settle into your reading, identify your exact reason for reading. This may sound strange but how often do you ask yourself 'what do I want to get out of this text'' and how often do you just let it aimlessly amble past you. So, determine your goal. Is it for general background' Is it to understand a new concept' Is it to seek out a specific quote or figure' Are you looking for clarification and further explanation' Or do you just need to double check that your existing understanding is correct' Your purpose will help to determine how fast you can get through the material. And it will train your mind to file away key words, phrases and facts.

3 OK, that's some useful advice on the overall context of reading. Time now for some specific tips on reading faster and remembering more. We'll start with an obvious one. Set yourself a deadline as to when that chapter or article or online report should be read by. It will provide a sense of urgency and, yep, you guessed it, it will encourage you to race along.

4 Another common sense tip is to avoid going back over what you have already read. This is a common trait. Most of us tend to do it. To stop yourself, place a piece of paper at the top of each page and bring it down as you read each line. This way, your speed, concentration and comprehension should all be improved.

5 Now for something a tad more complicated. Try to take in more than just one word at a time. Look at each alternate word. Or see groups of words. This may not be easy. Be prepared to practise a little. It will come. And when it does, your reading rate will double, if not triple.

6 As for retaining and retrieving all this data more effectively, well, being more focused in your reading will already be helping, but there are several other brain boosting things you can do as well. Write the relevant points down, recite them back to yourself and review them regularly. Throughout this process try to make good use of mnemonics. You know, those pesky memory techniques like:
Alliteration - a word's sound is repeated
Acronym - a word is formed using the first letter of each word you want to remember.
Acrostic - a phrase or saying is formed using the first letter of each word you want to remember.
Now, these might well sound a bit anoraky, but the end results will make it well worth your while.

7 Last, but not least, learn the art of skimming and use it wherever possible. Look at how the material is organised. Be guided by the headings and cross headings. Scan for the key words, phrases and facts you're after. Read just the first and last sentences of paragraphs to see if they contain the information you are seeking.

As a final comment, bear in mind that the time you spend putting these points into practice really will pay off.

Cash Crisis?

Making ends meet at Uni is tough. Here's what an expert advises from a news article I picked up.

Keith Tondeur, director of the money education charity, Credit Action, answers questions on how to manage student debt and handle your finances.

What do you think is a manageable level of debt for a student?
It is very difficult to give an accurate figure to this question! Nearly all students will come out of university with some debt and if they have not been able to get help from their parents or work in the vacations it is likely to be significant. It is important to remember that you will only have to repay this once you earn over a certain figure and so some students may never have to repay. The figure at which you start repaying is increasing and by the time you graduate it is likely that you will have to pay back 9% of everything you earn over £15,000.Try and budget but ensure you allow yourself some "leisure" money. Going to uni is more than non-stop study!

An old electricity bill from a student house I lived in last year has resurfaced in the shape of a letter from a bailiff addressed to me at my parent's home. Obviously I'm going to pay it immediately, but I was told this might affect my future credit rating' Is this something I should be worried about?
If you have an old bill that was in your name and you did not pay it on time it is likely that that is why you have now heard from the dreaded bailiff. It is important that you not only pay it straight away (and there might be substantial add-on costs) but also find out whether the bailiff is involved because of court action. It is quite possible that your credit rating is already adversely affected by this and if so you could struggle to get credit for six years. Write to a Credit Reference Agency, either Equifax (0207 298 3000) or Experian (0207 623 3860) and send them £2 and they will send a copy of your file to you.If you find there is a problem and you do have a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against you, you can go to court and make a Statutory Declaration that you had moved and this was the first you knew about the bill. You do this on oath and if you follow this route the CCJ will be set aside. This is very serious so please act swiftly and try and reach agreement as soon as possible.

Apart from a short-term job as a shop assistant, I have been out of work since I left university over a year ago. Can I declare myself bankrupt and get rid of my student debts'?
Technically you can declare yourself bankrupt at this current time though the Government is planning to close this loophole shortly. However, you do need to think of the consequences seriously. Going bankrupt can mean that you will struggle to get credit in the future and certain jobs may become impossible to consider once you have taken this step.In addition student loans only have to be repaid once you start earning serious money and in the mean time only increase with the rate of inflation. If student loans were your only debt therefore I would hesitate to recommend this route. However if you have a range of other loans as well it may be worth exploring. Whatever you do seek advice beforehand. I would recommend you contact the Consumer Credit Counselling Service on 0800 1381111 for totally free and confidential adviceI'm just starting university and want to avoid having any debt when I finish, if at all possible.

I have a part-time job and have managed so far with the help of some money from my parents. Is my aim of staying out of debt realistic? Do you have any tips?
It may be unrealistic to expect to leave uni totally debt free but that doesn't mean you can't do all you can to achieve this! Firstly however, make sure your part-time job does not get in the way of your studies. As pressures increase so does the tiredness and it can become easy to start to miss lectures and then your work can suffer.There are also certain things you can do and they are all to be found in Credit Action's booklet " A Students Guide to Better Money Management".

• Draw up a realistic budget for the academic year including items such as accommodation, food, transport, books and leisure.
• Control impulse spending and try and keep miscellaneous spending to as little as possible!
• Take full advantage of your bank's free overdraft offers.
• If you have to borrow more talk to your bank and get an agreed higher overdraft rather than go overdrawn without permission
• Be wary of credit and store cards- even those that offer "interest free" periods or transfers. If you do not keep on top of these they could eventually prove to be expensive.
  

If you find you are unable to avoid debt do not get depressed but talk to your parents or the Student Welfare Officers at your university.

My parents pay for my accommodation at university but I am relying on the money I earned over the summer and will be taking out a student loan to keep me going through the year. I admit I don't have much of a concept of money, so do you have any advice on how to budget properly for the year ahead?

Budgeting is a very important thing to consider not just when you are at university but for the rest of your life. By doing it correctly it can save you a fortune over the years and enable you to avoid spending a huge amount on unnecessary interest.Take a notebook with you whenever you go out and try and keep a record of what you spend on every different item over a four-week period. I appreciate that after the tenth pint this becomes a bit difficult! This will give you a pattern of your spending which you will need to put into categories such as food and travel and so you can estimate reasonably accurately what money you need for the rest of the year.Use your budget to borrow sensibly as necessary (and to prove to your parents that you are doing all you can to handle money wisely).Ensure you stretch your income over the full year and therefore try not to spend too much on today's wants only to find you have nothing left for tomorrow's needs.Plan things like trips to the supermarket. Go with a list but be prepared to swap items on it for any real bargains you see.

I'm studying an MA and unfortunately am not eligible for any financial help from my university. I am reluctant to take a Career Development Loan as I already have two student loans to repay. Are there any other government schemes or options available to me to help with the cost of my MA?

Unfortunately there are not many options here, as the Government does not have any financial schemes to help. The bets thing to do is to determine what career you intend to follow once you have completed your MA. What lenders are interested in is your future ability to repay any loans you take out.It is therefore worth doing some homework as to the likely salary level you will be achieving on the completion of your MA and also your likely expenses. So go along to your bank and sell your future to them! If they think you are a good risk and have done some careful planning you might be pleasantly surprised.Another option would be to go to potential employers and undertake the same exercise and see if they would be prepared to support you through your MA if you agreed to join them afterwards.

I have a credit card that I originally was only going to use for emergencies, but have ended up spending nearly £1,000 on it. The interest is pretty hefty and I'd like to get rid of it completely. As I already have my maximum number of student loans, are there any other options open to me to pay it off in one go, or maybe transfer it?

It is very easy to pile up interest on some credit cards and they are not the best way of borrowing for a hard-up student. There are some new players in the card market who offer cheap or even 0% interest deals for a time. Many of us are lazy and tend to stick to our own bankcards even though they are often quite expensive when compared to others.I am unsure from your question as to whether you have exhausted your interest free overdraft at the bank, but if you have go and talk to them and try and get it extended or even take out a small loan as this is still likely to be cheaper.If you are really struggling then talk to one of your Student Welfare Officers at college. Nearly all universities have such funds and they can make all the difference between sinking and swimming. Go to them with a proposal and be honest with them as to what you need and why. Also try and show that you are doing your bit by taking a job in the holidays if possible.

I expect that after I leave university, even if I get a good job, I will be in debt for most of life. This is a worrying thought, as I've grown up to believe being in debt is an insecure way to live. Do you have any advice on how to cope, not just with managing debt, but also dealing with the psychological side of living with debt?

I really would like to reassure you that you are unlikely to be in debt for the rest of your life. If you don't get a well-paid job you still technically owe your student loans but they only really become a debt when you are earning enough to start paying them off. If you do get a good income then yes, you will certainly notice the repayment but it should never be at a crippling level.Most of us have debts such as a mortgage but they only become a problem when for whatever reason we cannot pay them and so fall behind on our payments and thus get into debt. Credit can also be very useful in smoothing out the peaks and troughs of everyday life.Because you have identified this as a source of worry it is a good idea to conquer this fear. You can do this by ensuring you get to grips with the basics of understanding money and building your confidence in this area. One of the best ways of doing this is too learn how to budget. Remember to include some fun spending money!However it is very easy to waste money and Credit Action also has a booklet in the Better Money Management series packed full of Money Saving Ideas that will also help with budgeting tips. It also would be worth trying to build up, however slowly, a rainy day account. A useful idea would be to try and get this up to three months expenses over time.Lastly if you are worrying talk to someone who can reassure you and give helpful, free and confidential advice. Debt can be harmful but if you manage it carefully, borrow only when necessary and at the cheapest rates you can find, and then repay as quickly as you can then you can feel confident that you are controlling money rather than letting it control you.

Eight of the biggest incentives offered to graduates

To compare job offers, you'll need to weigh up the whole package, not just the starting salary. Sarah Richardson from the Guardian wrote an article about this. See what you think:

1. Pension provision:
As graduates leave university with mounting debts, few will give much thought to contributing to a pension scheme. In fact, the bad press surrounding falling values of pension funds and the ludicrous hikes in the property market may make you feel that a mortgage, rather than a secure old age, is your priority. However, some schemes offered by oil companies for instance offer graduates on permanent contracts access to their non-contributory, final salary pension schemes. And get this - you don't need to pay these pension funds, which will pay you a percentage of your final salary when you leave the company for every year you've worked for the firm. Will final salary pension schemes still exist when you hit 70? Only time will tell. But if they do, it'll be a perk worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

2. Joining bonuses:
An unsophisticated approach but one that's still wowing cash-strapped students up and down the country. According to a survey published by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), 25% of its members now offer a signing-on bonus or 'golden hello'. Payments range from £500 to £11,000 with a median payment of £1,500 and you're most likely to get one from the financial and legal sectors. More than one in four (29%) of those that offered joining payments pledged £1,000. Many recruiters see such a provision as altruistic: a way to help with your deposit on rented accommodation - particularly when you are relocating, to help you buy appropriate work clothes or help you pay off some of your graduate debt. Lareg consultancies and accountancy firms continue to offer the largest joining bonuses - for example £10,000 in two instalments: £6,000 when you sign up and the balance if you stay the course over two years - to all of the 400 graduates taken on this year.

3. Sponsorship for further training:
Some of us leave university with the intention of never taking another examination again. But there are undoubtedly big long-term prizes for those prepared to put in the work and study for further professional qualifications. Your employer is effectively paying for you to become more employable. For those who impress the recruiters, one of the most common perks for wannabe solicitors is sponsorship through law school, which can include the fees for a year's Common Professional Examination (CPE) for non-law graduates, a year's Legal Practice Course (LPC) for all graduates and appropriate living expenses. It's a perk worth up to £30,000 - and that's before you even walk through the door and start earning fees for your firm as a trainee solicitor.

But beware: if you decide later on that law's not for you, you could find you have to have to pay some or all of this sum back to buy your way out of your contract. Similarly, most accountancy firms will pay for their graduate intake to achieve their chartered accountant status. The company will pay for tuition and examination fees and grant you study leave during this three year programme, which you are expected to combine with full-time work. The perk's worth around £20,000, but can be costly to those who fail any of the nine exams.

You could find you're using your holiday for study leave, you're paying for your own resits and revision courses - or you could simply lose your job. Most blue chips employers encourage staff to take qualifications relevant to their role in, say, marketing or human resources. But those who last the distance in a top-flight management consultancy might be eligible for sponsorship through an MBA. Evening classes and one-year programmes are on offer and could be worthwhile courses. But high-flyers might find that within two yeas of joining a management consultancy, for example, their firm is prepared to sponsor them through a stellar MBA programme at say, Harvard, Stanford or Wharton. Cost of this perk - Up to £100,000 over two years.

4. Company car:
One moment you are walking to lectures and coveting a bus pass. The next you are driving an Audi A4 or a Mini Cooper branded in corporate colours. Many blue chip sales and marketing roles entitle you to a company car - and your job would be difficult without one. It's a perk that offers instant one-upmanship, but there's a catch - you may be stung for a truly vast tax bill. In fact, you might be better off opting for a car allowance paid to you monthly like a salary and then buying your own car.

5. Opportunities abroad:
One of the joys of working for an international blue chip is that you could work overseas early in your career as a secondment or as part of your training. Some law firms, for example, say that it's "very likely that you will be able to take up an international seat" - that's one of the four six month placements on its training contract. Oil firms and some consultancies may similarly stick you on a plane to somewhere exotic - but be aware that your hotel room and the airport lounge may be the only sights you take in. An obvious early sweetener from firms who recruit internationally is getting all the global graduate intake together to train them for four weeks in, say, Chicago or New York. Many graduates emphasise their desire to travel during the course of the milk round but you may find that by the time an opportunity presents itself you're settled in a house or in a relationship. Suddenly the prospect of six months in Hong Kong isn't so appealing.

5. Free food:
Sometimes it's just the little things that make a difference. And some employers are so keen to have you work every hour that God sends that they offer free in-house catering (they charge it to clients), free on-site gyms (keeps you fit - less sick leave), free neck massages and free eye tests, for example. With a pretty basic gym membership costing around £50 a month and a pretty modest grocery bill costing, say £20 a week, these perks are worth around £1,500 a year. And this, potentially, on top of private medical insurance: BUPA membership for a healthy no-smoking 23-year-old is around £450 a year. Most retail companies will offer staff discount cards. Some will have clothing allowances.

7. Mentoring:
It's a jungle out there - and sometimes you'll want someone to watch over you. Ask the HR department whether the firm operates a 'buddy' scheme pairing you with, say, someone who joined in the firm year before you. Their role will be to offer you friendly advice on dress codes, placement choices and office etiquette, for example. Mentoring programmes, through which you get to discuss your progress or concerns with some who isn't a direct line manager, are also helpful and can help you to make key decisions at important stages in your early career.

8. Unpaid leave:
By law you're entitled to four weeks' paid holiday a year and some employers will offer you more. However, human resources departments are becoming increasingly open to staff sabbaticals - allowing members of the firm to take unpaid leave to travel or pursue a pet project for a few months. As a recent government survey demonstrated, many of us appreciate the opportunity for flexible working more than a pay rise and offering this opportunity can help companies to retain talent.

Taking control of your job hunting

Cold calling can be one method to contact an employer to pro-act your job search and get instant results. Here's some tips.

Cold calling is the process of approaching organisations and arranging an interview. It can be more successful than other job hunting techniques as it is more targeted, more personal and allows you greater control.

1. Research
Find out fully if the company is hiring. Look at the job description and see if you are qualified. Research the employer fully and have the information to hand before you pick up the phone.

2. Focus
There are thousands of companies who recruit graduates. Try to focus on one sector or one location simply to make the task more manageable and identify around 600 to contact.

3. Speak to the right person
Identify the recruitment manager and ask to be put through. Don't bother leaving a message move onto the next company. Email maybe preferred and if this is the case explain that you will call a designated time in the next couple of days.

4. The call
Remember to make an outline of what you intend to achieve from the call and a list of questions. Have this, your background research on the company, the job, description and your CV to hand. Once you have prepared this only then pick up the phone.

- Introduce yourself
- Always ask the person if it is convenient to call
- Describe the reason for the call
- Ask questions about what they are looking for and make sure your answers meet those requirements
- An employer may wish to see you sooner than you think so be prepared and flexible
- Remain polite throughout and reiterate your interest in the role wherever possible
- Listen carefully and don't interrupt
- Ask if they have any reservations about your application and if so reply with constructive reasons why they needn't be concerned
- Finally thank them for their time and express your interest in seeing them at the interview

5. Your strengths
This is your one opportunity to impress the recruiter so make sure you leave a good impression. Focus on your strengths and why you are different to other graduates. Leave the caller with no option but to arrange an interview. If you had positive feedback from one of their competitors it would do no harm to mention this as it may encourage them to take you more seriously.

6. Timing
Friday afternoons are usually a good time as people tend to be a bit more receptive as the weekend is just starting! Alternatively try before 9am on a weekday before a secretary has arrived who may screen your call.

7. Be persistent
Research has shown that you are more likely to get results if you continue to call people at least 5-8 times! Remember competition is fierce for jobs and you will be up against candidates who have come from various sources such as online advertisements or recruitment agencies.

8. Follow up
Make sure you email a covering letter referring to your telephone conversation with a copy of your CV. Contact the employer the day before to finally confirm the interview and then it's over to you!

Have you got the post-uni blues?

More and more graduates are facing a confusing time when they leave university and have to start searching for a job. Careers advisers are calling it the quarter-life crisis; symptoms include a deep feeling of uncertainty about what to do with your life and slight resentment towards the people who convinced you that university was the only way to guarantee getting a decent job.

These graduates are realising that a degree alone is not a passport to the best jobs and, what's more, they have thousands of pounds of debt to think about. However, graduates do still earn more than employees without a degree (see this news article here), and are more likely to be promoted to higher-paid positions, but the real challenge is in securing the first entry-level graduate role.

If you are feeling like a victim of this condition, then, as we always suggest, your careers advice service should be the first point of call for some face to face advice. Even if you have graduated, most will still see you for a year or so after you've finished. They can help you to assess your skills and weigh up what sort of work you might find enjoyable - this is essential before you even begin your job hunt. If you start applying for the wrong kinds of posts, you are more likely to face rejection.

Does this sound all sound familiar to you? If you are reading this and feeling entirely de-motivated about your career progress, then express it here! You can share your opinion with the other thousands of students and graduates that visit this blog by leaving a comment below. You are not alone - the graduate job market is tough, but with the right advice and some persistence you will soon see the rewards.

Ethical organisations: an interview with Helen Wallis

I interviewed Helen Wallis, the Ethical Careers Service Manager at People & Planet, and I thought you might like to see what we talked about.

DH - What jobs are out there?
HW - The range of opportunities has expanded immensely. Whether you want to be a leader in sustainable business, work in ethical PR, become a solar engineer or campaign for change - whatever your ambitions - there is something out there for you. There are also thousands of other ways in which you can incorporate ethics into your career, whatever direction you choose. These include everything from introducing a recycling scheme in your office, installing a Fair Trade vending machine or undertaking an environmental audit in your organisation. Many of these are simple to achieve and can even save time and money.

DH - What are the salaries like?
HW -Being ethical doesn't mean you have to sacrifice a decent salary and benefits. Whilst some jobs do unfortunately mean accepting less than the average mainstream graduate salary, this isn't true for everything. For example, pay ranges from £18,000-£20,000 for first jobs in local government or national charities and up to £30,000-£100,000 for human rights lawyers and chief executives of green businesses. But equally important is the fact that money isn't everything. Many people working in the sector stress that they are far happier than their higher paid friends working in more mainstream jobs.

DH -What jobs are the most ethical?
HW -The fact is that ethics or values are highly personal and there is no one size fits all solution. We are all individuals and have different principles, beliefs and goals. Whilst an activist job might suit one person, tackling the dilemmas associated with the mainstream appeals to someone else. Choosing a socially and environmentally responsible career is therefore about you, your values, skills and what you want and need.

DH - So why choose an ethical career?
HW - Ethics are a major motivational force behind the decisions young people are making about their careers and futures. According to recent research by Ernst and Young, 89% of recent graduates would not work for a company with a poor ethical record and more than half would choose an ideal job over a higher paying job, despite having large debts to pay off. Employees' concerns are also a strong agent for change, with a recent survey of UK small business owners indicating that two thirds were likely to be influenced by their employees to be more socially active.

Working for an organisation you can believe in will give you a sense of personal fulfilment and a feeling that you are doing something rewarding. Young people are growing increasingly disillusioned with the prospect of working for large corporations and are seeking rewarding careers that offer the satisfaction associated with doing something that makes a positive difference. As something that we dedicate over 70,000 hours of our lives to, careers offer enormous potential for enabling individuals to influence positive change.

DH - Where can I find more information?
HW - Until recently it has been really difficult to find out about all the opportunities open to you. People & Planet have changed all that through providing the only service in the UK dedicated to helping you find a socially and environmentally responsible career.

The service is based around a website with over 1,000 links to essential resources, an ethical job bulletin and magazines packed with information, advice and job profiles. Whether you are just looking to see what's out there or are ready to start applying for jobs, it's the most comprehensive guide to ethical careers, opportunities and lifestyles in the UK.

Finally, don't make a rush decision. This isn't the milk-round where you just apply and your entire career is mapped out. An ethical career doesn't have to be just 9-5 or for your entire life. Being ethical means incorporating your values into your entire lifestyle. That can mean campaigning in your spare time or shopping for organic and fair trade goods, the nature and extent of the commitment is endless.

If you would like to find out more about socially and environmentally responsible careers, lifestyles and opportunities, People & Planet run an Ethical Careers Service visit their website: www.ethicalcareers.org

Unpaid internships - bad practice or useful experience?

Many university leavers find securing a graduate job can depend on a substantial period of work experience. However, finding this experience before graduation can be a tricky task, with many students resorting to unpaid internships to fill their experience gap.

This may all have to come to an end with the introduction of new legislation stating that unless the internship or placement is a specific requirement of a course, the work experience employee must be paid the minimum wage. From Oct 1 2007 this changed to:

£5.52 per hour for workers aged 22 years and older
A development rate of £4.60 per hour for workers aged 18-21 inclusive
£3.40 per hour for all workers under the age of 18, who are no longer of compulsory school age.

*source www.hmrc.gov.uk

This may sound like good news for the undergrads and recent grads, especially those who feel that their job hunting efforts suffer from the fact that all employers want experience alongside a degree. But this could also mean that the offers of placements and work experience dry up - since the benefit for the employer has significantly decreased from having to pay up for the placement worker. It can also be argued that unpaid placements favour those from privileged backgrounds, as they are more likely to be able to work without remuneration.

Furthermore, students are starting to make a stand against the menial tasks and long working hours they can be subjected to when on their placements. Especially in competitive sectors, like PR, advertising and television, students and grads can be open to this kind of abuse. Being stuck photocopying for a week is not productive for the student, or beneficial for the company in the long run, since the work experience candidate could potentially contribute if they are given the chance.

Have you carried out an internship that may have breached this practice? Do you think the legislation is a good idea, or a one that might further compound the issues of gaining experience? Or maybe you are an employer who used to offer unpaid internships but cannot any longer. You can share your thoughts and opinions by leaving your comments below.

Walk the talk

There are a few things that distinguish a student from a graduate job-seeker - here at the GRB we have come up with five changes you can implement if you are about to take the plunge.

There's no need to invent a brand-new you when you graduate, but there are things you can action to reinforce an image of a driven young professional.

What does your voicemail message say about you? If you are a job-hunter, your personalised message should make you sound professional in case a potential employer needs to contact you. Your message should still sound like you, but you should avoid sounding too casual or using any slang. The standard: 'You have reached the voicemail box of X, please leave a message and I will get back to you' is perfectly acceptable.

Recruiters have started searching for candidates' profiles on the internet as part of the selection process, and although it might not be ethical, there are no real restrictions to stop them. If you have a MySpace or Facebook, what do your pages currently say about you? Click here for a checklist of small changes that will make your profile employer-friendly.

Always use a professional email address on your CV. While Arsenalfan@...com may be fine for conversing with friends, it will give employers a negative perception of your level of professionalism and commitment to your job search. Firstname_Surname is a good prefix to an address as it includes your full name.

Avoid casual writing, even in emails. Although email is naturally a more informal means of communication, you should still stick to some guidelines. Conclude emails with 'Kind regards' or 'Best regards' (don't abbreviate to 'rgds'). Think about including a standard signature at the end of your emails citing all your contact details.

Finally, invest in a good suit! With all these other details in place, the interviews will soon start rolling in and now you have to look the part too.

What does that mean?!

The language contained in an average graduate job description is filled with ambiguous terms and strange words. How can you decode what these mean and figure it what they are really looking for? I have studied many job descriptions and picked a few commonly used words and translated them for you so you don't have to. If you have one I have missed let me know.

http://www.grb.uk.com/recruitment_glossary.0.html

Covering Letters

Need help designing a persuasive covering letter? Click here for templates, tips ands advice >
http://www.grb.uk.com/covering_letters.0.html

Five job-hunting myths dispelled

It can be hard to know what advice to take when you leave university and start job-hunting. Most academic courses don't have modules on 'how to get a job', so how are graduates meant to know the dos and don'ts of the application process? Here are five common job-hunting myths dispelled, to help you seperate truth from fiction:

MYTH 1. Finding a job after uni will be easy. Contrary to what some job-sites will have you believe, taking the first step onto the career ladder is not always straightforward. Today's graduate job-seeker must be informed, persistent and focused in order to succeed. It's called job-hunting for a reason - jobs won't necessarily come to you.

MYTH 2. The more applications you make, the more interviews you will get. Resist the temptation to spread the net wider in the hope to snag an interview. Filling up the inboxes of your potential employers with un-polished and irrelevant applications will not help you one bit. Job applications take time and consideration - it will be obvious to a recruiter if you are not really interested in the post. Also be careful not to fall into the cut-and-paste trap; what you write should be specific to the company and the post, demonstrating your enthusiasm.

MYTH 3. If I lower my salary expectations, I'm more likely to get a job-offer. This is a dangerous myth to believe. If you apply for jobs that you are overqualified for, you are very likely to face rejection. You might be able to do the job well, but an employer will recognise your skills and talent and realise that you might not feel challenged in the role. Don't underestimate your own worth - look for graduate positions that will utilise the abilities you developed whilst studying.

MYTH 4. All jobs are advertised in the papers or on the web. There are many ways that job vacancies can be announced, including internal postings and word-of-mouth. It is a good idea to research companies and send out speculative letters to organisations you would want to work for - it is not unheard of for people to get jobs this way.

MYTH 5. It doesn't matter what job you accept, as long as it pays. It's a bad idea to go for a job that you don't really feel 100% about. For one thing, you spend a large proportion of your life at work, so it's important that you like what you do. A lot of the graduates we place say that they had a 'feeling' that their job choice was right - this was probably because it fulfilled most of their prerequisites. Try writing a list of the things that are important to you in a potential career - you will find that it will help you to focus your job-search.

Have you got any job-hunting horror stories? Share them with the graduate community by adding your comment below and let others benefit from your experience.