Labour Market Task Group

The Journey to Graduate Career Success; understanding market trends and developing

employability skills.Employability – Employer Insights – Employability Skills Roadshows

Key Findings

• Graduate recruitment set to rise• Commerce & Engineering most sought after• Honours Degree minimum standard favoured• Salaries to remain static

Key Findings –Relevant Work Experience• Relevant Work Experience as important as Academic Results

when short listing.• Also rated highly Proven Employability Skills

Involvement with College Societies

Extra Curricular Involvements

Work Experience with the Company

Other Work Experience

Relevant Work Experience

Proven Employability Skills

Leaving Cert Results

Individual Subject Results

Overall Academic results

Relevance of Degree

0 20 40 60 80

The most important criteria when shortlisting graduates

Key Findings:- Employability Skills • Top: Team Work and Positive attitude, • followed by Business awareness and Communication &

literacy

Enterprise / Entrepreneurship

Positive Attitude

IT Skills

Application of Numeracy

Communication & Literacy

Problem Solving

Business & Customer Awareness

Teamwork

Self Management

0 20 40 60 80

Employability skills which are most important in graduate recruitment

Key Findings:- Employability Skills

• Skills to be worked on Self-management and Business awareness

• Along with Communication and Problem solving

Enterprise / Entrepreneurship

Positive Attitude

IT Skills

Application of Numeracy

Communication & Literacy

Problem Solving

Business & Customer Awareness

Teamwork

Self Management

0 20 40 60 80

Employability skills which need improvement in graduates

What employers are saying“ Competition is increasing…., to

secure a job.. Need to be a good all rounder, .. Good results, get work

experience……”

“the more work experience gained, the more real estate that a candidate

has when it comes to applying for graduate roles”

“Attending training sessions provided by careers services… will help develop skills in areas not addressed academically…” “Positive attitude is everything

for a company and the right fit will be a person with the right

attitude….”

“learn a language..” “attention to detail” “Improve your IT skills

“learn how to sell yourself when making an application….”

Employer Insights – tips and trends in graduate recruitment based on seminar held on 30 th April 2014

Trends in Graduate Recruitment

• Marketing campaigns• The application process – is it becoming

paperless? • Interviews – current practices and new trends• Linkedin and Social Media• E-Portfolios• Disclosure of particular needs

Organisations who took part

• KPMG• Enterprise Rent-A-Car• EY• HedgeServ• Engineers Ireland• Careers Register (CPL)• AHEAD• CIT

New Trends in graduate marketing campaigns

• Using Facebook – all years – competitions• Blogging and tweeting on social media• Skill sessions on college campuses – can do this on

request – EY• Campus Ambassador – €5k• Case study events with DIT and TCD• Company remits – increase student diversity • Milkround still alive but good students will engage

early

Application process – is it becoming paperless?

• Closer to online • Mobile technology is used to source jobs – but

applications tend to be made on PC’s• Traditional CV’s – still important, good layout and USP• Gaps in employment should be addressed in cover letter• J1 and shop experience valued on same level as relevant

professional experience (KPMG)• Use networks – mature students good at this• International candidates – 12 month visa, tell employers

Interviews – current practices and new trends

• Video interviews used at initial stages of recruitment process but these will never replace real thing.

• Strength based interviews – sharp questions on what candidate enjoys

• Why candidates fail – lack of research on company, failure to highlight relevance of studies to position applied for, failure to highlight what they can do for company

Interviews

Helpful hints for candidates –• Like the company• Demonstrate a life long career plan• Show they are flexible, adaptable and innovative • Highlight positive attitude, presence, body

language, social skills• Understand the culture• Find out who is on interview panel• Do not ask company to contact parents!!!

Linkedin and Social Media

• Increasingly use social media to research and interact with candidates esp Twitter and Facebook - blogs on best practice, interview process and following up events

• Enterprise Ireland uses interns to write blogs and offer advice to intending applicants

• Adopt a ‘personal brand’

Linkedin – ideal profile

• Picture• Be an ‘All Star’• Reverse engineer profile• Ensure headline is customised• Share some content and join debate• Connect responsibly• Be clear, concise ,upbeat and show ambition

E – Portfolios – are they the future?

• Ownership of learning• Can be built on year on year• Showcase work• Good e-portfolios include a reflective element• Must be personal, creative, and indicate career

development and should be linked to Twitter and Linked In

• Useful platforms for building one – Google and Weebly

Disclosure of Disability – what to do at interview

• Recognise where individual is at – change, lack of confidence, experience, assumptions

• Research job they would like to do• Communicate with staff at all levels – friends,

colleagues and academics• Understand and be aware – be factual on any

special requirements• Additional supports to not give unfair advantage• Lead conversation and be open

Video LinksMarketing: What have employers found useful in getting their message across to students?https://vimeo.com/97615237 Application Process: Is recruitment becoming paperless?http://vimeo.com/98879414

Interviews: Current/New trends in the interview process – Skype/Looped and Telephone Interviews.https://vimeo.com/97597493 Linkedin: What is the ideal Linkedin profile?https://vimeo.com/97815824 Social Media: What are employers’ opinions on the role of social media in the recruitment process; is it a useful tool when recruiting e.g. for vetting applicants?https://vimeo.com/97616507 E-Portfolios: Are E-Portfolios the future?https://vimeo.com/97595287 Disclosure of a Disability: What to do at interview.https://vimeo.com/97594726

In Summary

• Engage• Research• Network• Promoting of personal brand including part

time work, value of volunteering and membership of clubs and societies

Employability Skills Roadshow

Labour Market Advisory Group

Employability Skills RoadshowEMPLOYER LED – PILOT INITIATIVE

WHAT?Informal interaction between Graduate Employers & Students.

Educating Students – Developing their Professional Skillset

HOW?Understand what’s happening in the market place.

Highlighting what Alumni are doing now.Get the basics right.

WHEN?Semester 1, 2014/2015

• Meeting employers in July to plan;– Date– Format– Content

• Questions?

Next Steps

Thank You!