UWE Bristol Progressing into graduate employment Kate Colechin Pre HE Careers Consultant

Session outline Provide a general overview of the graduate market Highlight the sectors in high demand for graduates Illustrate where a degree will take you Demonstrate examples of how HEIs are preparing students for graduate employment.

Profile of HE students… 532,300 people entered UK higher education in Women are now 35% more likely to enter than men. White ethnic group were the least likely to enter higher education in 2015 with an entry rate of 28%. (UCAS)

Profile of HE students… Regionally: –Bristol West: 30.7% entry rate = 340 applicants –Bristol South: 14.5% entry rate = 160 applicants –WSM: 25.9% entry rate = 320 –Taunton:28.8% entry rate = 410 –Exeter:21.5% entry rate = 220 –Plymouth: 20.7% entry rate = 230 –Truro: 31.4% entry rate = (UCAS)

Overview of the graduate market 3.3% increased in number of graduate jobs advertised in 2015 (High Fliers, 2015) Jobs are open to graduates from any discipline Only 21% of graduates start their career in London (DLHE, 2015) 48% of finalists in 2015 started their career research in their 1st year (High Fliers 2015)

Overview of the graduate market Growth in vacancies: –public sector –banking & finance –engineering –Armed Forces. Skills shortages in: –Engineering –Building & construction –Teaching –Health –IT –Business.

What employers want…. Source: CBI Report (2014) – Responses from 291 employers, employing 1.4million in total

Most popular skills Employment at 18  Passion for the chosen industry  Punctuality  Reliability  Willingness to learn  Right attitude Graduates Commercial Awareness Communication Teamwork Negotiation and Persuasion Problem Solving Leadership Organisation Perseverance & motivation Work under pressure Confidence

Relevant skills: Law Firm: trainee Solicitor Attention to detailAttention to detail Communication skillsCommunication skills PersuasivePersuasive Report writingReport writing Problem solvingProblem solving Qualifications Experience analysing documents & meeting people

Relevant Skills Dentistry: evidence of potential for high academic achievement an understanding of the demands of Dental training and practice a caring and committed attitude towards peoplea caring and committed attitude towards people the ability to communicate effectivelythe ability to communicate effectively a willingness to accept responsibilitya willingness to accept responsibility non-academic interests and personal achievements UCAS

Which is the most competitive? What?Where? PhysiotherapyUWE LawExeter HistoryCambridge MidwiferyLiverpool John Moores SociologyBath University MedicineUniversity of Manchester ApprenticeshipMarks & Spencer

What?Where?Number of applicants receiving offers PhysiotherapyUWE22% LawExeter88% HistoryCambridge36% MidwiferyLiverpool John Moores2% SociologyBath University83% MedicineUniversity of Manchester24% ApprenticeshipMarks & Spencer1% Source: Which? University, 2015

Where a degree will take you?

Do you need a postgraduate degree to get a job? Times Higher Education, Jan 2016

Investment banks cut graduate recruitment targets. efinancialcareers, Jan 2016

Penguin scraps degree requirement. Telegraph, Jan 2016

Broadly positive employment outlook. Guardian, Jan 2016

Sample Graduate Destinations – directly related to subject Degree subjectEmployment Business Graduate Buyer : Tesco Law Enforcement Officer : HM Court and Tribunal Services Geography Mapping/GIS Analyst : UK Hydrographic Office Economics Risk Analyst : Morgan Stanley Analytical Science Drug Analyst Fashion Print Designer : Top Shop

Other Graduate Destinations Degree SubjectEmployment BiologyEvents Manager : Scarlett Pub Company EnglishMarketing Officer : British School of Osteopathy LawIntelligence Analyst : Scambusters PsychologyMedia Analyst : Warner Brothers Drawing and Print IT Consultant

Non-Graduate….but on track Criminology & Sociology: –Mental Health Recovery Worker History: –Museum Learning Support Assistant English: –Publishing Assistant Fashion: –Production Assistant – Victoria Beckham Fashion

Match the degree with the destinations Computing:Risk Analyst, Morgan Stanley Maths: Graduate Trainee, L'Oréal Fashion: Retail Manager, John Lewis Business: Tax Professional Trainee, HM Revenue and Customs Economics: Software Engineer, Civil Service History: Print Designer, Topshop

Economics: Risk Analyst, Morgan Stanley Business: Graduate Trainee, L’Oreal History: Retail Manager, John Lewis Maths: Tax Professional Trainee, HM Revenue and Customs Computing: Software Engineer, Civil Service Fashion:Print Designer, Topshop

Preparing students for graduate employment Skills Work experience Degree ‘commercial awareness’

Preparing students for graduate employment Placements & Internships Volunteering Employability Awards Entrepreneurship activities Careers Events & Input from employers Clubs and Societies Embedded in the course Extra Curricular Alongside the Curriculum

Preparing students for graduate employment: FET Panel events Drop in sessions Interactive lectures Workshops Input from employers ACE Careers ‘Festival’ –X50 events in a week –Endorsed by academics Timetabled sessions Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries and Education Faculty of Environment and Technology

Case Study: graduate employment Two students started on the same IT degree. When they graduated they were both looking for a graduate job as a web developer. One got a job as a trainee web developer earning £16,000 a year. The other got a job as a web developer earning £22,000. What could explain this difference?

Case Study: graduate employment Web developer: £16,000 a year or £22,000. Relevant work experience/internship Degree classification Networking Website / Social media presence Able to market skills & CV full of “interesting” activities

Further Resources