Be a standout candidate & land your first graduate job with our top tips
FEWER than one in six graduates seeking their first job have been successful since the pandemic hit in March, new research reveals.
And only two thirds still feel positive about their prospects, with confidence levels plummeting 20 per cent in a year, the study, by staffing firm Walters People, shows.
To help this troubled generation of university leavers, Monday saw the launch of the first National Graduate Week.
Set up by job experts Careermap, the event features free online talks, webinars from key graduate recruiters and events focusing on the sectors that are still hiring.
Today’s itinerary includes a talk from campaign group UK Music on how graduates can help launch innovations in the music industry.
Spokeswoman Sharon Walpole said: “Entry-level jobs are hard to come by at the moment, and they are more competitive than they have been in a long time.
Jobspot
CONSULTING and digital services firm CAPITA is taking on grads for schemes including IT and property management
Find out more at .
HOW TO CLINCH FIRST JOB
WITH graduate jobs at a premium, how you apply and perform at interview is vital.
Here, Rob Worrall, of accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, shares his tips on how to be a standout candidate.
Improve your CV
CAN’T find a graduate job? Then try these two schemes to gain vital work experience and improve your CV.
Bedfordshire’s Time2Grow places people who have graduated from any university in the past five years into temporary jobs. See .
Meanwhile, the TopTask app connects skilled undergrads and graduates with businesses for freelance work, from retail and fashion to media and app-building. See .
‘LEARNED SO MUCH’
EVERY little helps but Tesco is taking on lots of graduates for its popular 2021 scheme.
The supermarket needs 100 new starters across its finance, tech, business and store training programmes. Applicants need a minimum 2:2 degree or predicted result.
Jobspot
ALDI is hiring graduate area managers.
For details see .
A HELPING HANDSHAKE
MANY students find the graduate jobs market confusing — with some employers targeting only specific universities for recruitment.
But new platform Handshake aims to simplify the graduate jobs search.
Set up by former students, the site has just launched in the UK, connecting 900 universities, 500,000 employers and 17million students with available job opportunities around the world.
Handshake CEO Garrett Lord said: “Our mission is to democratise opportunity
“We exist to level the playing field by seamlessly connecting universities, employers and students at scale.”
READ MORE SUN STORIES
To see what opportunities are available, log on at .
Companies still hiring
AMAZON has opened applications for its grad jobs in finance, software engineering and business development. See
Insurers NFU MUTUAL have opened applications at
BAE SYSTEMS graduate scheme applications open on October 1. Pre-register now at
NETWORK RAIL is opening applications in October. Pre-register at
- Check out 1,000s of jobs on our dedicated SunJobs site.
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk