Graduates urged to use web to net a job

UNIVERSITY leavers are being encouraged to use social networking and extra-curricular activities to help them secure a foothold in the increasingly competitive jobs market.

The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) said that while vacancies in some sectors were up, there was increased competition for most positions.

It called on graduates to make use of social media, with websites such as Facebook and Twitter becoming increasingly important in recruitment.

It said extra-curricular activities at university, such as part-time work or membership of societies, helped candidates to stand out from the crowd.

Anne-Marie Martin, AGCAS president and director, said: “It’s easy to get the impression that there are no jobs out there. On the contrary, there are lots, but admittedly competition for them is tough. Those who consciously improve their skills, accumulate work experience, proactively seek out ‘hidden’ vacancies and make the most of their careers service will have a definite edge.”

The organisation said university careers services reported a “mixed picture” during the third quarter of 2011, with more vacancies but growing competition for jobs. It said competition was “fierce” in most sectors, exacerbated by a backlog of graduates from the past two or three years still in jobs where they did not see a long-term future.

There has also been a continuing fall in public sector vacancies and in areas heavily dependent on them, such as the construction and legal sectors.

AGCAS said a degree provided candidates with a “big advantage” but said a degree alone was not enough. It called on students to make good use of the opportunities university offers to gain experience and skills, such as student societies and both voluntary and paid work.

Martin Pennington, AGCAS interim chief executive, added: “AGCAS encourages employers to extend their reach to all students and graduates, not just those at a small number of universities. This is the way to be sure that they are selecting from the biggest possible pool of talented students.

“We also want to get across how well positioned university careers services are to help employers recruit and to ensure that while at university students are acquiring the knowledge, skills and experience that employers look for.”