STEP AHEAD
What are employers looking for when
recruiting graduates and school leavers?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
World Challenge would like to thank all the
participants who took part in this research,
as well as those who provided comment
for inclusion in this report.
ABOUT WORLD CHALLENGE
World Challenge is the leading global provider
of student-led expeditions. With options to
travel to all four corners of the world, the
initial planning and fundraising phases take
place over the course of one to two years,
culminating in the expedition which is spent
trekking and carrying out outreach activities
to benefit and support the local community.
World Challenge works with around 500
schools globally (across 25 countries) and
engages with approximately 15,000 students
and 1,200 teachers a year.
The organisation has regional offices in the
UK, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East,
North America and South Africa to enable
them to give a localised and personal service to
schools, while drawing on worldwide resources
and working to exacting safety standards.
Community engagement in Laos
FOREWORD
Last year we conducted research into how important
extra-curricular activities are in the university admissions
process. The results of Giving You The Edge were
overwhelming; 97 per cent of universities surveyed said
that evidence of extra-curricular activities is an important
part of the application process.
This new research looks at the next step for school leavers
and graduates: the world of work. It asks businesses what
they think makes job applicants stand out from the crowd,
and what skills they value in their employees.
Since the Giving You The Edge report we’ve seen some
interesting developments that have taken the debate on
the importance of extra-curricular activities to a new level.
The instatement of Nicky Morgan as Secretary of State
for Education started the conversation on characterbuilding, grit and resilience.
Little over a year later, there were media reports that
stressed students were struggling to strike a healthy worklife balance, and that extra-curricular activities were the
first to go in the effort to make more time for academic
commitments.
Meanwhile, businesses were hitting out, saying school
leavers didn’t have the necessary skills to thrive in the
workplace, and they were picking up the slack in getting
them up to speed.
Young people have a range of opportunities available to
them when they leave compulsory education. This report
examines what makes school leavers and graduates stand
out from their peers when it comes to getting a foot on the
career ladder, and the key skills they need to demonstrate
to get their CV to the top of the pile.
Extra-curricular activities help school leavers and
graduates demonstrate how they could be an asset to
a particular employer. Whilst businesses still feel that
academics are a good indicator of potential, they also see
the value that participation in these activities brings to
the table. It is widely understood that activities such as
volunteering, work experience and overseas expeditions
provide people with a toolkit of transferable skills that are
in demand in the workplace.
FOREWORD
In addition, whilst the end of the recession has seen an
overall decrease in unemployment, 16-24 year olds are
nearly three times more likely to be unemployed. This is
the largest gap the country has seen in 20 years.
What this shows is that there is still a fight for jobs
for those making their first step onto the career ladder.
With hundreds of applications for each available role,
businesses increasingly want to see the person behind
the CV; the personality behind the grades.
Extra-curricular activities, therefore, also allow young
people to let their personalities shine through in an
extremely competitive environment.
I hope this report will give young people, their parents
and their teachers the confidence that extra-curricular
experiences are well worth pursuing. It is clear that these
activities are something to make
time for, rather than something
to drop.
It is by encouraging young
people to get involved in these
character-building activities
that we will ensure their
success in whatever
they choose to do
for their future
endeavours.
Matt
Eastlake
Group
Managing
Director,
World Challenge
1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This research aims to understand the views and opinions of the senior leadership of a range of SMEs
(Small and Medium Enterprises) across the UK. The findings detailed in this report are based on:
501 responses from:
Those surveyed were from:
•
•
•
•
•
• Micro businesses (155)
• Small businesses (151)
• Medium businesses (195)
Business owners/proprietors (172)
Managing Directors/Partners (67)
Board Level Directors/Partners (63)
Directors (34)
Senior Management (165)
Respondents were able to provide written responses to survey questions, some of which appear
throughout this report.
The survey was completed and all responses collated in October 2015.
KEY FINDINGS
70%
Demonstration of extracurricular activities can
make young job applicants
more employable. 70 per
cent of businesses say that
evidence of participation
in these activities makes
candidates stand out from
the crowd.
Activities outside of
study can accelerate
progress. Over half of
businesses are of the
opinion that candidates
who have experience of
extra-curricular activities
progress faster in their jobs
than those who do not.
A strong academic record
is important to employers,
but only a quarter of
businesses prefer to hire
candidates with good
qualifications over those
with experience of extracurricular activities.
2
Extra-curricular activities
provide a range of skills
that make young job
seekers stand out from
the crowd. Excellent
communication is the most
desirable skill according to
78 per cent of businesses.
78%
Nearly two-thirds of businesses say
that candidates with extra-curricular
experience tend to be more successful
employees. Extra-curricular activities
could be the secret to career success.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Exploring Costa Rica & Nicaragua
FROM CV TO INTERVIEW – WHAT WORKS?
“As recent graduates [often] do not have workplace
experience, extra-curricular experience gives them
communication skills and the experience of working with
others. It shows dedication and perseverance.”
In a constantly changing job market, standing out from
the crowd can be difficult for young people. It is no longer
enough to have an excellent academic track record, and
whilst a list of top grades can be impressive, it fails to
convey personality and character attributes that can give
employers a good sense of how a candidate would thrive
in their business.
When it comes to sifting through CVs, therefore, it is
perhaps unsurprising that employers think that extracurricular activities make an applicant more distinctive
than a strong academic track record. 70 per cent of
businesses surveyed said that participation in extracurricular activities makes a candidate stand out, and when
it comes to CVs, two-thirds said that these activities make
all the difference.
70%
Thinking about situations in which you might
be hiring recent graduates/school leavers,
which of the following factors do you think
make a CV stand out from the crowd?
Technical skills (i.e.
computer software skills,
language skills, etc.)
“I like graduates who have done other things than spend three
years at university.”
Participation in extracurricular activities
“Depending on the type of activity, it helps to show whether
a candidate has a mature attitude and common sense (often
lacking), [as well as] leadership qualities. Taking part in
activities which show a degree of responsibility attached to
them, such as youth work, is preferable.”
Strong academic
record
The only area that employers rated more highly than extracurricular activities was evidence of technical skills, such as
computer software skills and language skills. This area was
mentioned extensively by those working in industries or
sectors that were dependent on such technical ability.
“[As] a film producer I would appreciate activities connected
with computer skills, technical skills... even if the person was
going to only work at the office. It would be essential for them
to know the specifics of my company’s activities.”
FROM CV TO INTERVIEW
70 per cent of
businesses say that
candidates who take
part in extra-curricular
activities stand out
from the crowd.
6%
3%
0
10
20
77%
66%
60%
Other
None of these
30
40
50
60
70
80
3
“Having to work as part of a team and not necessarily with
people you are familiar with, who have different ideas, set me
up well for the future. When you come to business it is the same
– you can’t succeed on your own, but you can as a team. In the
workplace you have to work together towards a common goal.”
Rob Passaway, Commercial Finance Manager at PepsiCo and former Challenger
IN THE HOT SEAT: WHAT MAKES INTERVIEWEES STAND OUT?
Getting through the initial CV sift is only the first hurdle for
young applicants wanting to get a foot through the door. When
it comes to impressing in an interview situation, employers want
to see that job candidates can display and evidence a range of
transferable skills.
“Skills [to demonstrate] would definitely be interpersonal skills.”
Which of the following attributes do you
think are likely to make a job applicant stand
out from the crowd in an interview?
78%
Excellent communication skills
59%
Confidence
55%
Providing examples of working
well as a team member
“[They] must make their CVs stand out from just the
qualifications, [and] ensure [that they] highlight skills
and have the ability to learn new skills quickly.”
55%
Demonstrating attention to detail
53%
Providing examples of perseverance
when faced with a challenging task
Out of a range of skills, 78 per cent of employers indicated
that excellent communication skills were the most important
when it came to standing out in a job interview. Confidence and
evidence of teamwork came second and third, with 59 and 55
per cent of businesses selecting these two attributes respectively.
51%
Creativity
35%
Demonstrating
resilience
“Communication, resilience, fortitude.”
“Confidence and good communication skills always
work miracles.”
“Communication skills are extremely important, as is an
awareness and acceptance of work discipline.”
“It is of more interest if someone does not have a strong
academic record, maybe due to circumstances outside of their
control, and they have carried out other work or activities to
show they have key skills such as communication [and]
working with others.”
When employers were asked what advice they would give to
school leavers and graduates applying for jobs, development of
these key skills came out top. However, in addition to these
characteristics, employers also cited the following:
“Anything that demonstrates taking up a challenge.”
“Ability to deal with risks, ability to solve problems.”
4
23%
Cultural awareness
20%
Providing examples of
managing money
2%
None of these
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
“Extra-curricular activities reveal insights into their character
that cannot be gleaned from academic achievements.”
“Travel experience shows applicants have a better
understanding of the wider world and cultures.”
Whilst it might be achievable to develop some of
these skills in a classroom environment, young people
should consider that the majority of these come with life
experience and activities outside of the lecture theatre.
IN THE HOT SEAT
FOOT IN THE DOOR: SKILLS FOR SUCCESS
World Challengers go on to a variety
of endeavours and careers, from higher
education to starting their own businesses.
Many of them attribute their experience on
a World Challenge expedition as one of the
reasons they were able to get their foot in the
door of their chosen industry.
Ex-Challenger Sangeetha Srinivasan
explains how she got to where she is now.
After completing a World Challenge expedition
in 2002 Sangeetha finished her A-levels and then
embarked on a degree in Psychology, subsequently
completing a Masters in Occupational Psychology.
She was then recruited onto a competitive NHS
graduate leadership scheme and gained an MA in
HR, which was the springboard into exciting HR and
Occupational Psychology roles. Currently she works
as an Organisational Design Specialist for the BBC,
designing a strategy around what a new function of
the BBC should look like and how it should operate.
“In 2002 I completed a World Challenge expedition
to Morocco with Aylesbury High School. So many of
the skills gained from the experience have helped me
get to where I am now.
We had several objectives to meet during our
Morocco trip, one of them being to navigate ourselves
around using our GCSE French, which meant I had to
hit the ground running. To successfully reach the peak
of a 13,600ft mountain we also all had to take turns to
act as group leader for a couple of days and it was then
I first realised that I enjoyed leading and felt energised
by this – I also received positive feedback for my skills.
I discovered my leadership style: I’m consultative and
lead best through asking people what they think and
working collaboratively. This reinforced my love of
working with people and in teams, which has ultimately
led me to the industry I work in now.
My current role is high-level and strategic, so project
management and the ability to work effectively
with lots of stakeholder groups is crucial. I learned
these skills for the first time on the expedition too,
as we had to work in a diverse team and divide roles
between people we didn’t know very well to meet
objectives. We had to think on our feet and exercise
resourcefulness and project management skills to
reach the next big milestone.
FOOT IN THE DOOR
The real evidence of the impact this experience
had on my career is that I secured a place on the NHS
graduate scheme, for which 20,000 people applied
for 200 places. Throughout the six month rigorous
assessment process I reflected on World Challenge
and referenced it frequently. I am sure that my
World Challenge experience positively impacted on
securing a place on the graduate scheme; it wasn’t
just about academic achievement, my employers
needed something else and if I hadn’t taken part in
the expedition I wouldn’t be where I am now.
It’s absolutely critical for young people to take part
in extra-curricular activities; in fact I think it should be
part of the mainstream curriculum! Experiences such
as World Challenge shape the foundations of careers,
broaden horizons and make people more openminded and aware. Often the curriculum shows young
people what they can’t do – for instance if they don’t
get the grades – however extra-curricular experiences
help them realise what they can do, learn more about
who they are and increase their confidence.”
5
“My trip to India as an 18 year old gave me confidence in my own
abilities. There have been times in my career where I haven’t been the
obvious choice for a role, or where a job involved a lot of upheaval.
However, I have thrown myself in regardless and very often succeeded.
Why should someone else do something when I can do it myself?
This is the attitude I learned from World Challenge.”
Katherine Rushton, Media and Technology Editor at the Daily Mail and former Challenger
FOOT IN THE DOOR: CLIMBING UP THE LADDER
The majority of businesses think that extra-curricular
activities make candidates stand out, and once they’ve
got their foot in the door, those with experience of extracurricular activities really shine in the workplace.
“People with extra-curricular activities are people with
creativity.”
“They tend to be more outgoing and rounded individuals
who take ownership on tasks, [and are] able to work alone
and self-motivate where needed.”
“They are more confident and more willing to get stuck
in and keep going, even when things are tough. They
also have creative thinking and can make decisions on
their own.”
The majority of businesses
think that extra-curricular
activities make candidates
stand out
These activities are so important to employers that an
academic track record is becoming less important; 57 per
cent of businesses put the two on an equal par whilst only
38 per cent think academics are more important than life
experience.
“Strong academic candidates are often more narrowly
focused.”
Nearly two-thirds of businesses believe that candidates
with more than academic experience are able to progress
more quickly within their companies. In addition, 64 per
cent thought that those with extra-curricular activities
tend to be more successful employees. Many cited the
transferable and interpersonal skills gained from such
activities as the reason behind this accelerated progression
and success.
“[Participation in extra-curricular activities] indicates that
they are driven.”
There are still a number of employers for whom extracurricular activities aren’t important. Of this group,
participating in the right kind of activity that provides
appropriate skills is crucial.
“These activities must be quality.”
“This depends on their extra-curricular activity. If [it is] in a
related subject to the work they are being interviewed for
then it is relevant.”
“If two candidates have the same academic record then
the [candidate] with extra-curricular [activities] tells you
something extra about that person [and] gives you a
fuller picture.”
“[It’s important to] have things to talk about outside
academia.”
6
FOOT IN THE DOOR
Ban Na, Laos - Sports Day
70%
of businesses
think that
candidates
who take part in extra-curricular
activities stand out from the crowd.
57% of businesses say that
candidates who take part
in extra-curricular activities
tend to progress quicker
within the company than
those who do not.
64%
Only 38% of businesses
prefer to hire graduates/
school leavers with a
strong academic record
over those with extracurricular activities.
FOOT IN THE DOOR
59% of businesses
view extra-curricular
activities as
important as a strong
academic record.
of businesses say that candidates who
take part in extra-curricular activities tend
to be more successful employees when
they start working at the company.
Only
28%
of businesses think
that it doesn’t matter
whether or not
applicants include
extra-curricular
activities on their CV.
7
A sense of achievement in Tanzania
CONCLUSION
This report has provided a useful continuation from Giving
You The Edge, giving insight into how businesses view
extra-curricular activities when recruiting school leavers
and recent graduates.
Young people currently have a wide range of
opportunities available to them when they leave school.
They can jump straight into their chosen career, learn on
the job with an apprenticeship, or expand their academic
knowledge with further and higher education.
Yet with this increased opportunity and choice comes the
decline in traditional routes to employment. When applying
for a job, young people are facing more competition and
less ways to make them stand out from the crowd.
Young people currently have
a wide range of opportunities
available to them when they
leave school.
What is clear from this research is the fact that
participation in extra-curricular activities not only
helps young people to stand out from their peers when
competing for jobs, but also provides them with a range of
skills desirable to businesses; skills which they may not be
able to acquire elsewhere.
It is skills like being able to communicate effectively,
leadership, management, attention to detail, confidence
and perseverance that allow these young people to go
above and beyond, and impress in interview situations.
In addition, once these young people have got their foot
through the door, the skills they have acquired from extracurricular activities allow them to progress more quickly
in their line of work, and ultimately be more successful.
Taking part in extra-curricular activities, therefore,
really is a no-brainer.
8
However, in addition to these findings we also hear
reports that students are stressed and dropping hobbies in
order to focus exclusively on their studies. Businesses are
complaining that schools aren’t properly preparing young
people for the world of work and life in general, and there
still remains too much of a focus on excelling academically.
Whilst it is right that succeeding in school and achieving
good qualifications are important for a variety of reasons
not limited to job-seeking, we need to ensure that young
people today are receiving a balanced, well-rounded
education. This is an education that includes time away
from hitting the books, and instead encouraging students
to take part in activities that will provide them with
experiences not exclusive to the classroom.
The government has recognised the importance of
such activities, and is urging schools to provide more
opportunities for young people to participate in them.
This is a good step in the right direction, but more needs
to be done. We need to encourage young people to develop
themselves, outside of their studies.
Doing so will allow them to compete in a job market that
is increasingly global, as well as ensuring the future of a
diversely qualified and experienced workforce.
World Challenge
Further Information
For media enquiries or images, contact:
Global Communications Manager
Jon Dale on +44 (0)1494 427621
or +44 (0)7824 016041
or email: [email protected]
To discuss the findings of this report contact:
Group Managing Director
Matt Eastlake on +44 (0)7816 291870
or email: [email protected]
CONCLUSION
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Cover Image: Trekking – The Silk Route
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