Decisions after School or College… Simon Reichwald - CEO Bright Decisions after School or College… Simon Reichwald - CEO Bright

University, Careers & that word ‘Employability’ What students need to know about

Student Recruitment – AGR Advisory Council – YEUK Advisory Board – Global & SME Employers A bit about the Bright Futures Society (NFP) – Student Empowerment & Personal Responsibility – 60 Universities – 2013 Launched Societies into Schools A bit about me & Bright Futures

The Media Hype.... The Bad, The Ugly & The Good

The Media Hype.... New graduates face tougher struggle in their search for jobs Local Government Association figures show regional variations in job availability as almost half of graduates are still looking for work after three months The Guardian Graduate unemployment at highest for over a decade [BBC News] Graduate unemployment levels on a par with school leavers Latest data shows 25% of 21-year- olds who left university with a degree in 2011 were unemployed compared with 26% of 16-year-olds with GCSEs The Guardian Up to a fifth of graduates 'without work' after university A fifth of students are being left without a job six months after graduating from some British universities, according to official figures. The Telegraph

The Media Hype....good news Graduate vacancies at five-year high, suggests research – BBC 2014 Warning over engineering shortage A report warns that the UK needs to increase the number of science, technology and engineering graduates it produces by 50%. BBC News A study, by High Fliers Research, of 100 major firms says there will be a 9% rise in this recruitment - about 1,400 extra jobs – Jan ‘14 Work experience and networking key to graduate jobseekers‎ Work experience and networking key to graduate jobseekers‎ [Chartered Management Institute] Networking and work experience are best ways into graduate jobs [HRmagazine.co.uk] Rise in number of Scotland's graduates in permanent jobs BBC Graduates with industry placements more employable Pareto Law

51.6% >60% c£18-26k , ,000 Average graduate salary as £18,345- £22,535 & £26k 51.6% of Graduates in FT Graduate Employment – 6 months after graduation Average of 83 applications per vacancy Almost 350,000 new graduates each year 110,000 Freshers with 320 UCAS points 110,000 Freshers with 320 UCAS points >60% graduates receive a 2:1 or better 1/3 rd 33% of graduate roles filled by placement or internship candidates

Some Recruitment Trends

Some School, College & University Recruitment Trends Opportunities for – Graduates are UP – School Leaver & Higher Apprenticeship are UP More routes into employment & a good career So what are the right option for each of your students? ‘Simon’s 3 Reasons for going University’… – NUS research – 79% ‘Why are you going to University?’

Differentiate 1/3 rd Graduate Recruiters do not fill all roles – A key reason is lack of skills CBI Report on the need for more ‘rounded and grounded’ young people, ‘not just an exam factory’ Academic success is no longer enough for employment Becoming ‘Job Competitive’

47 x 47 x 47? So it’s worth making the right career choice… Making the best career choice

Where to start? – Which University? Which University? – Careers Web content – Careers Video Content - Where to start...Where to start... – Connect with employers face to face & Online e.g. Linked In Find out what is out there What do those employers seek when recruiting? What roles play to your strength? – Major Graduate Employers (<10%) and SMEs

How can your students get ahead of the game?

What more do employers look for now… How to Stand out Today?

Prepare examples of these!

Knowledge – not need to know it all (as world changes too fast), but know how to find out things Attitude – open to learning and trying new things ‘Extra’ Employability skills (e.g. self management, commercial & customer awareness, agility, resilience, collaboration, being networked) Strengths – knowing yourself & what you do well Global Perspective – interested in the experiences of others and global developments And then learn how to EVIDENCE IT Further Areas for Student Development

How can we all help them? Differentiate themselves, with their STORY Cannot rely on academic achievement alone – extra curricula Make the most of the opportunities & experiences School, College & University offers – students need to start taking action now! Build knowledge of careers options, skills & employers ‘contacts’ Make it ‘fun’ & Empower them…

“Will it make the boat go faster?” Start at Bright Futures School Society…?