The Graduate Jobs Market:
Some personal thoughts
Cheltenham College
Vince Pizzoni, Preng & Associates
March 24th 2017
Getting a job today
• Leading employers value work experience (58% most popular attribute) among
graduates more than the grades (16%) or the university (15%) they have been to (The
Independent)
• Today, the average person changes jobs ten to fifteen times (with an average of 12 job
changes) during his or her career (thebalance.com)
• Hiring managers are having trouble finding employees with the right soft skills for 59% of
their open jobs (Business News Daily)
• The graduate hiring process can take several months longer today and will involve
multiple steps compared to 20-30 years ago
• An updated and relevant CV is as critical today as it has been over many years
• Early interaction with specific recruitment agencies is important
• Degree Apprenticeships may suit some people
• Networking is critical; studies show that 70-80% of jobs are not advertised
(theladders.com)
Getting a Placement
• Identifying opportunities
• CV
• Application
• Interview
• Follow up
CV
• The purpose of a CV is to get an interview
• Your chance to sell yourself
• Needs to show name, contact details, academic performance, work
shadowing, work experience, internships, interests and achievements
• Keep to one page
• Neatly laid out
• No spelling errors/typos
• Check font type and size
Interviews
• Research and preparation
• Several types (phone, Skype, digital, psychometrics, face to face)
• Dress code
• Be on time
• Be clear and concise
• Positive body language
• Use STAR to respond
• Be prepared to ask questions
• Follow up
Interview-Types of Questions
1. Competency Based/Behavioural: Give me an example of when you
motivated a sports team to achieve a win?
2. Fact Based: Why did you leave your last school?
3. CV Based: Talk me through your CV.
4. Motivation/Drive Based: What do you know about our company?
5. Strengths Based: What motivates you? What is something you are
really proud of and why?
6. Situational / judgemental: If someone disagrees with you, what do
you do?
Face-to-face Interview
• Research:
• Presentation:
• Body Language:
Non-verbal behaviour
Have you researched for the interview?
Are you dressed for an interview?
Be aware of your body language
Read the body language of the interviewer
Tones
20 - 30%
(visual) 55 - 75%
Words
5 - 15%
The importance of body language
STAR technique for competency based interviews
The Work Placement
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First day-get there early
Be polite to everyone you meet
Dress code-wear appropriate clothes
Time keeping-always be on-time
Communication-listening, positive, open, honest
Networking-get their business cards
Social media-don’t use it
Daily log-summarise who you met/what you did/what you achieved
Work hard-don’t leave early and show willing to get involved
Thank the manager and key staff-they will remember the ones who didn’t
Key Employability Skills
• Verbal and Written Communication
• Teamwork
• Business understanding
• Analysing and investigating
• Initiative and self motivation
• Planning and organising
• Flexibility
• Time management
Follow Up
• Write up a report and present at school
• Identify what you learnt, did well and could have done better
• Maintain contacts with key people you met to let them know how you
are doing
• Think through what the placement means in terms of your future
career and academic choices at school
• Talk this through with your parents and school staff
• Keep researching careers and look for your next placement
How to land a job within 6 months of
graduation
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Get the best degree classification you can (blue chip employers)
Do as much relevant work experience as possible
Don’t forget non academic/extra-curricular interests can be important
Get your CV started early and keep it “humming”
Don’t forget a cover letter if needed
Make full use of the Careers Centres at School and University
Finding a job is like a military campaign so research and plan accordingly
Network, network, network
Sell yourself on social media (eg LinkedIn) and mind your manners
Acknowledgements
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Marchesschool.co.uk
Carmelharrisonpr.com
Internchina.com
Mylastdart.com
Proresumecenter.com
Transmosis.com
Hashtagcv.com
Jantoo.com
Fareedsiddiqui.com
Leedstrinity.ac.uk
GVI Service Learning
Shutterstock.com
Cheltenhamcollege.org