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 2015.
• 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:
– Taunton:
– Exeter:
– Plymouth:
– Truro:
25.9% entry rate = 320
28.8% entry rate = 410
21.5% entry rate = 220
20.7% entry rate = 230
31.4% entry rate = 330
https://www.ucas.com/corporate/data-and-analysis/ucas-undergraduate-releases/he-entry-rates
(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
• Skills shortages in:
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Engineering
Building & construction
Teaching
Health
IT
Business.
• Growth in vacancies:
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public sector
banking & finance
engineering
Armed Forces.
What employers want….
Attitude & Aptitude
89%
Degree subject
68%
Work experience
62%
Degree class
61%
University attended
12%
0
20
40
60
80
100
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
www.theguardian.com
Graduates
Commercial Awareness
Communication
Teamwork
Negotiation and Persuasion
Problem Solving
Leadership
Organisation
Perseverance & motivation
Work under pressure
Confidence
www.targetjobs.co.uk
Relevant skills:
Law Firm: trainee Solicitor
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Attention to detail
Communication skills
Persuasive
Report writing
Problem 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 people
• the ability to communicate effectively
• a willingness to accept responsibility
• non-academic interests and personal achievements
UCAS
Which is the most competitive?
What?
Where?
Physiotherapy
UWE
Law
Exeter
History
Cambridge
Midwifery
Liverpool John Moores
Sociology
Bath University
Medicine
University of Manchester
Apprenticeship
Marks & Spencer
What?
Where?
Number of applicants
receiving offers
Physiotherapy
UWE
22%
Law
Exeter
88%
History
Cambridge
36%
Midwifery
Liverpool John Moores
2%
Sociology
Bath University
83%
Medicine
University of Manchester
24%
Apprenticeship
Marks & Spencer
1%
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 subject
Employment
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 Subject
Employment
Biology
Events Manager : Scarlett Pub Company
English
Marketing Officer :
British School of Osteopathy
Law
Intelligence Analyst : Scambusters
Psychology
Media 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
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Computing:
Maths:
Fashion:
Business:
Risk Analyst, Morgan Stanley
Graduate Trainee, L'Oréal
Retail Manager, John Lewis
Tax Professional Trainee, HM
Revenue and Customs
• Economics: Software Engineer, Civil Service
• History:
Print Designer, Topshop
Economics:
Business:
History:
Maths:
Computing:
Fashion:
Risk Analyst, Morgan Stanley
Graduate Trainee, L’Oreal
Retail Manager, John Lewis
Tax Professional Trainee,
HM Revenue and Customs
Software Engineer, Civil
Service
Print Designer, Topshop
Preparing students for graduate
employment
Skills
Degree
Work
experience
‘commercial
awareness’
Preparing students for graduate
Embedded in the course
employment
Extra Curricular
Alongside the Curriculum
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Placements & Internships
Volunteering
Employability Awards
Entrepreneurship activities
Careers Events & Input from employers
Clubs and Societies
Preparing students for graduate
employment:
FET
ACE
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• Careers ‘Festival’
Panel events
Drop in sessions
Interactive lectures
Workshops
Input from employers
Faculty of Environment and Technology
– X50 events in a week
– Endorsed by academics
• Timetabled sessions
Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries and Education
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.
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Relevant work experience/internship
Degree classification
Networking
Website / Social media presence
Able to market skills & CV full of “interesting”
activities
Further Resources
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www.ucas.com
www.ukcoursefinder.com
www.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk
www.thescholarshiphub.org.uk
www.nationalcareerservice.direct.gov.uk
www.careerpilot.org.uk