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
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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
Relevance of Degree
Overall Academic results
Individual Subject Results
Leaving Cert Results
Proven Employability Skills
Relevant Work Experience
Other Work Experience
Work Experience with the Company
Extra Curricular Involvements
Involvement with College Societies
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20
40
60
The most important criteria when shortlisting graduates
80
Key Findings:- Employability Skills
• Top: Team Work and Positive attitude,
• followed by Business awareness and Communication &
literacy
Self Management
Teamwork
Business & Customer Awareness
Problem Solving
Communication & Literacy
Application of Numeracy
IT Skills
Positive Attitude
Enterprise / Entrepreneurship
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20
40
60
Employability skills which are most important in graduate recruitment
80
Key Findings:- Employability Skills
• Skills to be worked on Self-management and Business
awareness
• Along with Communication and Problem solving
Self Management
Teamwork
Business & Customer Awareness
Problem Solving
Communication & Literacy
Application of Numeracy
IT Skills
Positive Attitude
Enterprise / Entrepreneurship
0
20
40
60
Employability skills which need improvement in graduates
80
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 30th 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
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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
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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?
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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 Links
Marketing: 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
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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 Roadshow
EMPLOYER 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
Next Steps
• Meeting employers in July to plan;
– Date
– Format
– Content
• Questions?
Thank You!