Cracking The Un-crackable: The Graduate Job Market

There hasn`t been a tougher time for UK graduates to enter the job market. It`s a common fact I`m afraid, that the job market isn`t suited to graduate entry as much as it has been in the past.

But that isn`t the end of the story, and the good news is, there are ways to combat it.

The two keys to this, are pro-activity, and experience.

One of the more common trends that is emerging is the fact that employers are focusing on how enthusiastic about their chosen field of work, which is measured in a number of ways. Surprisingly, this doesn`t involve the choice of subject to as greater degree as it normally assumed. It is measured by the amount of work experience that the person has in that area, as well as the degree to which it is researched. Both of these will come out in the interviews and assessment centres, the latter of which is the more established way of winnowing out the real talent.

But getting the experience initially is the real problem. One of the questions which every unsuccessful graduate application inevitably meets with, assuming it`s failed on the grounds of experience, is `How am I supposed to get experience if no-one gives me any?` And the answer to this conundrum is rarely forthcoming.

However, universities these days, and the cities in which some of them are based can provide an answer. The first of these, assuming a graduate wishes to go into banking or finance, or even law, is to join a society whose passion lies in one of these areas. The Law Society at the University of Birmingham, and the Society of Construction Law in the city itself are key examples. Students have also been known to correspond with legal firms and present papers at seminars. This is also useful for those wishing to pursue a career in academia - I myself presented two papers for the London Socialist Historians relating to Cold War subjects, and the offer of further study at Oxford University was due in no small part to this work. So in addition to summer internships and temporary contracts, I would encourage the truly ambitious people to investigate what is available in their location as rigorously as possible.

So what are the next steps after this? Well, that`s very simple, although putting it into practice isn`t. A final interview or an assessment centre can be one of the most daunting experiences in the world, especially if you`ve never done it before. Some people can go through ten or more of these before they lay their hands on that dream job. And let`s face it, a lot of graduates aren`t fortunate enough to get into that position. The CV, which will have been drafted beforehand, is the first step, as is the need to communicate your enthusiasm and knowledge about the position and the organisation in the application form. But to prepare for an assessment day, more is needed. One`s interview technique has to be honed with precision, answers to questions need to be prepared thoroughly, and if possible, it`s advisable to have experience of group and analytical exercises. Another key is how well you maintain your composure throughout the day. It`s important to feel at ease with those around you, and to socialise well - remember, you are being judged on everything you do throughout the day, not just in the assignments!

If you need help, or fear that you may be lacking confidence in any one of these areas, it`s beneficial to seek advice beforehand. Best of luck!