Presentation about jobhunting for graduates in the current labour market

1. Graduates and the Labour Market
Strategies for Finalists

2. This session covers:
• What do graduates do?
• Where do graduates work?
• What can you do to increase your chances?

3. Graduates at work
Non Graduate Jobs
Graduate Jobs
Graduate Jobs
65%
Non Graduate
Jobs 35%
All UK graduates responding
to survey 6 months after graduation

4. –
What sectors do graduates work in?
• Public sector
Civil service, local government, public protection, education, health
service
• Commercial sector
Manufacturing, retailing, business services, professional
services, engineering, media
• Voluntary sector
Charities, not for profit organisations, community organisations
• Freelance and entrepreneurs
Setting up on your own often in IT, web design, media, writing

5. Who employs graduates?
Small & Medium sized companies
Large graduate recruiters
Professional firms
Public sector
Self Employment
Small & Medium sized companies
Large graduate recruiters
Professional firms
Public sector
Work experience/Temping

6. Where do graduates work?
Global labour market: www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/careerchoices/international
Vacancies: www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/search international

7. Sources of vacancies for UK graduate jobs
Careers website: choose jobs for graduates on jobs
database and sign up for email alerts
Graduate career websites and directories –
Prospects, Hobsons, Milkround, Targetjobs
Specialist career websites – e.g. Mandy.com (
film/TV), Environmentjob.co.uk, wiredsussex.com,
Charityjob.co.uk, others by sector in Researching Careers
Employer’s own website – look carefully for ‘careers’

8. Meeting employers on campus
• Weekly events here
• Careers fair
• Make it happen! Every Spring term
• Other opportunities

9. Creative job search
• Networking
• Research using: contacts, attending events
, internet, RSS feeds, social networking, professional
directories
• Information interviewing
• Work experience/shadowing/volunteering/research
project
www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/creativejobsearch

10. Online Networks
• A professional online presence can help you to make
contact with people in the sector you are interested in.
• Examples of your creativity on web pages, blogs, online
videos are important in media/ creative industries

11. Where to start? Explore these:
• Identifying what you can offer: skills and experiences
Know your strengths
• Understanding some things about what you are looking
for
• Reflecting on what you want from a job in terms of:
• Types of activity you want to engage in
• Level of financial or other rewards
• Types of people you want to work with
• Location- where do you want to be?
www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/careerchoices/interests
www.sussex.ac.uk/careerchoices/researchingcareers

12. Getting a graduate job
• Explore – keep learning: our website, events
• Experience – get out and practice
• Connect – make your argument to potential
recruiters
• Don’t give up

13. Get a strategy!
 Establish a routine
 Look ahead at the jobs you may be aiming for
in the future
 Exploit contacts and work experience
 Positive mental attitude
 Review your strategy regularly
 Careers & Employability Centre

14. Careers and Employability Centre support
• Workshops – daily events, weekly programme
• Short interview with a careers adviser:
Mon – Fri from 10 am ‘til 5pm and Wed ‘til 7pm
• Vacancies – part time, work
experience, internships, graduate jobs
www.sussex.ac.uk/careers