Students told to look beyond graduate recruitment places

Posted 23 Aug 2010

Young adults struggling to win places on graduate recruitment schemes have been advised to look at what the rest of the employment market has to offer them.

One option available is to teach English abroad for a year, which can enhance a graduate's CV as well as giving them vital experience in the responsibilities of work.

Dan Hawes, of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, said that there has been a downturn in the number of recruitment schemes open to university leavers, but added that there are plenty of other options for people to consider.

He was speaking after a report from the Association of Investment Companies indicated that more than half (55 per cent) of students are worried about finding a job when they leave university.

Mr Hawes said: "These reports tend to be very focused on graduate schemes, which probably represent [only] about 18,000 jobs."

There are countless other job opportunities available to graduates though, particularly if they widen their scope to include overseas destinations.

Earlier this month, it was reported by the Belfast Telegraph that taking a gap year to teach English abroad could help young adults improve their self-confidence and prepare them for the world of work.

Category: Teaching and Learning