STEP AHEADWhat are employers looking for when recruiting graduates and school leavers?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWorld Challenge would like to thank all the participants who took part in this research, as well as those who provided comment for inclusion in this report.

ABOUT WORLD CHALLENGEWorld Challenge is the leading global provider of student-led expeditions. With options to travel to all four corners of the world, the initial planning and fundraising phases take place over the course of one to two years, culminating in the expedition which is spent trekking and carrying out outreach activities to benefit and support the local community.

World Challenge works with around 500 schools globally (across 25 countries) and engages with approximately 15,000 students and 1,200 teachers a year.

The organisation has regional offices in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, North America and South Africa to enable them to give a localised and personal service to schools, while drawing on worldwide resources and working to exacting safety standards.

Last year we conducted research into how important extra-curricular activities are in the university admissions process. The results of Giving You The Edge were overwhelming; 97 per cent of universities surveyed said that evidence of extra-curricular activities is an important part of the application process.

This new research looks at the next step for school leavers and graduates: the world of work. It asks businesses what they think makes job applicants stand out from the crowd, and what skills they value in their employees.

Since the Giving You The Edge report we’ve seen some interesting developments that have taken the debate on the importance of extra-curricular activities to a new level.

The instatement of Nicky Morgan as Secretary of State for Education started the conversation on character-building, grit and resilience.

Little over a year later, there were media reports that stressed students were struggling to strike a healthy work-life balance, and that extra-curricular activities were the first to go in the effort to make more time for academic commitments.

Meanwhile, businesses were hitting out, saying school leavers didn’t have the necessary skills to thrive in the workplace, and they were picking up the slack in getting them up to speed.

Young people have a range of opportunities available to them when they leave compulsory education. This report examines what makes school leavers and graduates stand out from their peers when it comes to getting a foot on the career ladder, and the key skills they need to demonstrate to get their CV to the top of the pile.

Extra-curricular activities help school leavers and graduates demonstrate how they could be an asset to a particular employer. Whilst businesses still feel that academics are a good indicator of potential, they also see the value that participation in these activities brings to the table. It is widely understood that activities such as volunteering, work experience and overseas expeditions provide people with a toolkit of transferable skills that are in demand in the workplace.

In addition, whilst the end of the recession has seen an overall decrease in unemployment, 16-24 year olds are nearly three times more likely to be unemployed. This is the largest gap the country has seen in 20 years.

What this shows is that there is still a fight for jobs for those making their first step onto the career ladder. With hundreds of applications for each available role, businesses increasingly want to see the person behind the CV; the personality behind the grades.

Extra-curricular activities, therefore, also allow young people to let their personalities shine through in an extremely competitive environment.

I hope this report will give young people, their parents and their teachers the confidence that extra-curricular experiences are well worth pursuing. It is clear that these activities are something to make time for, rather than something to drop.

It is by encouraging young people to get involved in these character-building activities that we will ensure their success in whatever they choose to do for their future endeavours.

Matt EastlakeGroup Managing Director, World Challenge

FOREWORDCommunity engagement in Laos

FOREWORD 1

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

KEY FINDINGS

This research aims to understand the views and opinions of the senior leadership of a range of SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) across the UK. The findings detailed in this report are based on:

Respondents were able to provide written responses to survey questions, some of which appear throughout this report.The survey was completed and all responses collated in October 2015.

501 responses from:• Business owners/proprietors (172)• Managing Directors/Partners (67)• Board Level Directors/Partners (63)• Directors (34)• Senior Management (165)

Those surveyed were from:• Micro businesses (155)• Small businesses (151)• Medium businesses (195)

Demonstration of extra-curricular activities can make young job applicants more employable. 70 per cent of businesses say that evidence of participation in these activities makes candidates stand out from the crowd.

A strong academic record is important to employers, but only a quarter of businesses prefer to hire candidates with good qualifications over those with experience of extra-curricular activities.

Extra-curricular activities provide a range of skills that make young job seekers stand out from the crowd. Excellent communication is the most desirable skill according to 78 per cent of businesses.

Nearly two-thirds of businesses say that candidates with extra-curricular experience tend to be more successful employees. Extra-curricular activities could be the secret to career success.

Activities outside of study can accelerate progress. Over half of businesses are of the opinion that candidates who have experience of extra-curricular activities progress faster in their jobs than those who do not.

70%

78%

3FROM CV TO INTERVIEW

Exploring Costa Rica & Nicaragua

FROM CV TO INTERVIEW – WHAT WORKS?

“As recent graduates [often] do not have workplace experience, extra-curricular experience gives them communication skills and the experience of working with others. It shows dedication and perseverance.”

In a constantly changing job market, standing out from the crowd can be difficult for young people. It is no longer enough to have an excellent academic track record, and whilst a list of top grades can be impressive, it fails to convey personality and character attributes that can give employers a good sense of how a candidate would thrive in their business.

When it comes to sifting through CVs, therefore, it is perhaps unsurprising that employers think that extra-curricular activities make an applicant more distinctive than a strong academic track record. 70 per cent of businesses surveyed said that participation in extra-curricular activities makes a candidate stand out, and when it comes to CVs, two-thirds said that these activities make all the difference.

“I like graduates who have done other things than spend three years at university.”

“Depending on the type of activity, it helps to show whether a candidate has a mature attitude and common sense (often lacking), [as well as] leadership qualities. Taking part in activities which show a degree of responsibility attached to them, such as youth work, is preferable.”

The only area that employers rated more highly than extra-curricular activities was evidence of technical skills, such as computer software skills and language skills. This area was mentioned extensively by those working in industries or sectors that were dependent on such technical ability.

“[As] a film producer I would appreciate activities connected with computer skills, technical skills... even if the person was going to only work at the office. It would be essential for them to know the specifics of my company’s activities.”

70%70 per cent of businesses say that candidates who take part in extra-curricular activities stand out from the crowd.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Thinking about situations in which you might be hiring recent graduates/school leavers, which of the following factors do you think make a CV stand out from the crowd?

77%

66%

60%

6%

3%

Technical skills (i.e. computer software skills, language skills, etc.)

Participation in extra-curricular activities

Strong academic record

Other

None of these

4 IN THE HOT SEAT

IN THE HOT SEAT: WHAT MAKES INTERVIEWEES STAND OUT?

Getting through the initial CV sift is only the first hurdle for young applicants wanting to get a foot through the door. When it comes to impressing in an interview situation, employers want to see that job candidates can display and evidence a range of transferable skills.

“Skills [to demonstrate] would definitely be interpersonal skills.”

“Communication, resilience, fortitude.”

“Confidence and good communication skills always work miracles.”

“[They] must make their CVs stand out from just the qualifications, [and] ensure [that they] highlight skills and have the ability to learn new skills quickly.”

Out of a range of skills, 78 per cent of employers indicated that excellent communication skills were the most important when it came to standing out in a job interview. Confidence and evidence of teamwork came second and third, with 59 and 55 per cent of businesses selecting these two attributes respectively.

“Communication skills are extremely important, as is an awareness and acceptance of work discipline.”

“It is of more interest if someone does not have a strong academic record, maybe due to circumstances outside of their control, and they have carried out other work or activities to show they have key skills such as communication [and] working with others.”

When employers were asked what advice they would give to school leavers and graduates applying for jobs, development of these key skills came out top. However, in addition to these characteristics, employers also cited the following:

“Anything that demonstrates taking up a challenge.”

“Ability to deal with risks, ability to solve problems.”

“Extra-curricular activities reveal insights into their character that cannot be gleaned from academic achievements.”

“Travel experience shows applicants have a better understanding of the wider world and cultures.”

Whilst it might be achievable to develop some of these skills in a classroom environment, young people should consider that the majority of these come with life experience and activities outside of the lecture theatre.

“Having to work as part of a team and not necessarily with people you are familiar with, who have different ideas, set me up well for the future. When you come to business it is the same – you can’t succeed on your own, but you can as a team. In the workplace you have to work together towards a common goal.”Rob Passaway, Commercial Finance Manager at PepsiCo and former Challenger

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Excellent communication skills

Confidence

Providing examples of working well as a team member

Demonstrating attention to detail

Providing examples of perseverance when faced with a challenging task

Creativity

Demonstrating resilience

Cultural awareness

Providing examples of managing money

None of these

78%

59%

55%

55%

53%

51%

35%

23%

20%

2%

Which of the following attributes do you think are likely to make a job applicant stand out from the crowd in an interview?

5FOOT IN THE DOOR

FOOT IN THE DOOR: SKILLS FOR SUCCESS

World Challengers go on to a variety of endeavours and careers, from higher education to starting their own businesses. Many of them attribute their experience on a World Challenge expedition as one of the

reasons they were able to get their foot in the door of their chosen industry.

Ex-Challenger Sangeetha Srinivasan explains how she got to where she is now.

After completing a World Challenge expedition in 2002 Sangeetha finished her A-levels and then embarked on a degree in Psychology, subsequently completing a Masters in Occupational Psychology. She was then recruited onto a competitive NHS graduate leadership scheme and gained an MA in HR, which was the springboard into exciting HR and Occupational Psychology roles. Currently she works as an Organisational Design Specialist for the BBC, designing a strategy around what a new function of the BBC should look like and how it should operate.

“In 2002 I completed a World Challenge expedition to Morocco with Aylesbury High School. So many of the skills gained from the experience have helped me get to where I am now.

We had several objectives to meet during our Morocco trip, one of them being to navigate ourselves around using our GCSE French, which meant I had to hit the ground running. To successfully reach the peak of a 13,600ft mountain we also all had to take turns to act as group leader for a couple of days and it was then I first realised that I enjoyed leading and felt energised by this – I also received positive feedback for my skills. I discovered my leadership style: I’m consultative and lead best through asking people what they think and working collaboratively. This reinforced my love of working with people and in teams, which has ultimately led me to the industry I work in now.

My current role is high-level and strategic, so project management and the ability to work effectively with lots of stakeholder groups is crucial. I learned these skills for the first time on the expedition too, as we had to work in a diverse team and divide roles between people we didn’t know very well to meet objectives. We had to think on our feet and exercise resourcefulness and project management skills to reach the next big milestone.

The real evidence of the impact this experience had on my career is that I secured a place on the NHS graduate scheme, for which 20,000 people applied for 200 places. Throughout the six month rigorous assessment process I reflected on World Challenge and referenced it frequently. I am sure that my World Challenge experience positively impacted on securing a place on the graduate scheme; it wasn’t just about academic achievement, my employers needed something else and if I hadn’t taken part in the expedition I wouldn’t be where I am now.

It’s absolutely critical for young people to take part in extra-curricular activities; in fact I think it should be part of the mainstream curriculum! Experiences such as World Challenge shape the foundations of careers, broaden horizons and make people more open-minded and aware. Often the curriculum shows young people what they can’t do – for instance if they don’t get the grades – however extra-curricular experiences help them realise what they can do, learn more about who they are and increase their confidence.”

6 FOOT IN THE DOOR

FOOT IN THE DOOR: CLIMBING UP THE LADDER

The majority of businesses think that extra-curricular activities make candidates stand out, and once they’ve got their foot in the door, those with experience of extra-curricular activities really shine in the workplace.

“People with extra-curricular activities are people with creativity.”

“They tend to be more outgoing and rounded individuals who take ownership on tasks, [and are] able to work alone and self-motivate where needed.”

“They are more confident and more willing to get stuck in and keep going, even when things are tough. They also have creative thinking and can make decisions on their own.”

These activities are so important to employers that an academic track record is becoming less important; 57 per cent of businesses put the two on an equal par whilst only 38 per cent think academics are more important than life experience.

“[It’s important to] have things to talk about outside academia.”

“Strong academic candidates are often more narrowly focused.”

Nearly two-thirds of businesses believe that candidates with more than academic experience are able to progress more quickly within their companies. In addition, 64 per cent thought that those with extra-curricular activities tend to be more successful employees. Many cited the transferable and interpersonal skills gained from such activities as the reason behind this accelerated progression and success.

“[Participation in extra-curricular activities] indicates that they are driven.”

There are still a number of employers for whom extra-curricular activities aren’t important. Of this group, participating in the right kind of activity that provides appropriate skills is crucial.

“These activities must be quality.”

“This depends on their extra-curricular activity. If [it is] in a related subject to the work they are being interviewed for then it is relevant.”

“If two candidates have the same academic record then the [candidate] with extra-curricular [activities] tells you something extra about that person [and] gives you a fuller picture.”

The majority of businesses think that extra-curricular activities make candidates stand out

“My trip to India as an 18 year old gave me confidence in my own abilities. There have been times in my career where I haven’t been the obvious choice for a role, or where a job involved a lot of upheaval. However, I have thrown myself in regardless and very often succeeded. Why should someone else do something when I can do it myself? This is the attitude I learned from World Challenge.”Katherine Rushton, Media and Technology Editor at the Daily Mail and former Challenger

7FOOT IN THE DOOR

of businesses think that it doesn’t matter whether or not applicants include extra-curricular activities on their CV.

of businesses think that candidates

who take part in extra-curricular activities stand out from the crowd.

70%57% of businesses say that candidates who take part in extra-curricular activities tend to progress quicker within the company than those who do not.

59% of businesses view extra-curricular activities as important as a strong academic record.

64%Only 28%

of businesses say that candidates who take part in extra-curricular activities tend to be more successful employees when they start working at the company.

Only 38% of businesses prefer to hire graduates/school leavers with a strong academic record over those with extra-curricular activities.

Ban Na, Laos - Sports Day

8 CONCLUSION

This report has provided a useful continuation from Giving You The Edge, giving insight into how businesses view extra-curricular activities when recruiting school leavers and recent graduates.

Young people currently have a wide range of opportunities available to them when they leave school. They can jump straight into their chosen career, learn on the job with an apprenticeship, or expand their academic knowledge with further and higher education.

Yet with this increased opportunity and choice comes the decline in traditional routes to employment. When applying for a job, young people are facing more competition and less ways to make them stand out from the crowd.

What is clear from this research is the fact that participation in extra-curricular activities not only helps young people to stand out from their peers when competing for jobs, but also provides them with a range of skills desirable to businesses; skills which they may not be able to acquire elsewhere.

It is skills like being able to communicate effectively, leadership, management, attention to detail, confidence and perseverance that allow these young people to go above and beyond, and impress in interview situations.

In addition, once these young people have got their foot through the door, the skills they have acquired from extra-curricular activities allow them to progress more quickly in their line of work, and ultimately be more successful.

Taking part in extra-curricular activities, therefore, really is a no-brainer.

However, in addition to these findings we also hear reports that students are stressed and dropping hobbies in order to focus exclusively on their studies. Businesses are complaining that schools aren’t properly preparing young people for the world of work and life in general, and there still remains too much of a focus on excelling academically.

Whilst it is right that succeeding in school and achieving good qualifications are important for a variety of reasons not limited to job-seeking, we need to ensure that young people today are receiving a balanced, well-rounded education. This is an education that includes time away from hitting the books, and instead encouraging students to take part in activities that will provide them with experiences not exclusive to the classroom.

The government has recognised the importance of such activities, and is urging schools to provide more opportunities for young people to participate in them. This is a good step in the right direction, but more needs to be done. We need to encourage young people to develop themselves, outside of their studies.

Doing so will allow them to compete in a job market that is increasingly global, as well as ensuring the future of a diversely qualified and experienced workforce.

World Challenge

Further InformationFor media enquiries or images, contact:Global Communications Manager Jon Dale on +44 (0)1494 427621or +44 (0)7824 016041 or email: jdale@world-challenge.co.uk

To discuss the findings of this report contact:Group Managing Director Matt Eastlake on +44 (0)7816 291870or email: meastlake@world-challenge.co.uk

CONCLUSION

Young people currently have a wide range of opportunities available to them when they leave school.

A sense of achievement in Tanzania

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Cover Image: Trekking – The Silk RouteCopyright ©World Challenge 2015. All rights reserved.