Graduates
Recent university graduates have been hard hit by the economic downturn. Positions that would normally have been filled by graduates are now being taken by people with more experience who have lost their jobs as a result of the current economic climate.
Graduate recruitment has been either suspended or greatly reduced in many sectors of the economy, particularly in the corporate banking sector, leaving students with unprecedented levels of debt and far fewer opportunities in which to apply their education and skills. The increase in graduate numbers over recent years has created more intense competition, which further exacerbates the difficulties facing the job-seeking graduate.
Projects
Lack of experience is often cited as a reason for lack of job success, and several ESF-funded projects are supporting graduates into suitable employment by addressing just this. At Stoke College in Staffordshire, the Flexible Routeway offers graduates unpaid work placements through which to gain experience which is of equal value as skills development on their CV, as well as a referee who can commit on their work ethic and attributes.
Other ESF-funded programmes delivering support tailored for graduates include:
- Gateway to SusCon (Kent)
- ITM Graduate Employability Support Programme (NW).
