Decisions after School or College…Decisions after School or College…

Simon ReichwaldSimon Reichwald - CEO Bright Futures - CEO Bright Futures@brightfuturesNT@brightfuturesNT

University, Careers & that word University, Careers & that word ‘Employability’‘Employability’

What students need to know aboutWhat 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 FuturesA bit about me & Bright Futures

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

The Media Hype....The Media Hype.... New graduates face tougher struggle in their search for jobsLocal 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 leaversLatest 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

universityA 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 newsThe 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 Work experience and networking and networking key to graduate key to graduate jobseekers

jobseekers [Chartered Management Institute]

Networking and work experience are best

Networking and work experience are best

ways into graduate jobs

ways into graduate jobs

[HRmagazine.co.uk]

[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

83

110,000

350,000Average 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

>60% graduates

receive a 2:1 or better

1/3rd 33% of graduate roles filled by

placement or internship candidates

Some Some RecruitmentRecruitmentTrendsTrends

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 • 1/3rd 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 choiceMaking the best career choice

• Where to start?– Which University?– Careers Web content - www.allaboutcareers.com – Careers Video Content - 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 How can your students get ahead of the game?get ahead of the game?

• What more do employers look for now…

How to Stand out Today?How to Stand out Today?

Prepare examples of these!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 developmentsAnd then learn how to EVIDENCE IT

Further Areas for Student Further Areas for Student DevelopmentDevelopment

How can we all help them?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?”Will it make the boat go faster?”

Start at Bright Futures School Society…?

simon@brightfutures.co.ukwww.brightfutures.co.uk