Posted 27 Aug 2010
Hundreds of UK graduates are undertaking work placements in far-flung destinations such as China, in a bid to stand out from the crowd.
According to the BBC, more young people are working and living abroad, not only to broaden their horizons, but also to boost their employability.
Joanna Page, an accountancy and finance graduate from Sheffield University, told the news provider that she has paid thousands of pounds for the privilege of a work placement in Beijing, something she hopes will help her land a full-time job.
"It's just extremely competitive at the moment. Only two out of a group of 15 of us have gone straight into a job," she said.
"It seems a 2:1 degree is almost not enough any more, and so extra work experience and achievements and skills do give you that extra edge over other candidates."
Ms Page, 21, explained that working abroad for a short period allows her to demonstrate to prospective employers that she can adapt quickly to new situations and will not shirk from daunting challenges.
As well as increased competition for jobs, it seems that students are finding it harder to win places at university as well, with as many as six candidates competing for every clearing position this year.
Category: Living Abroad
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