It's Not All Doom and Gloom...

Further to the earlier post "What Do Graduates Do?", the AGCAS Quarterly Survey of Vacancies and Employer Activity suggests a positive trend during the summer of 2011.

Vacancies in IT, retail, marketing, advertising and PR all rose during that period, while the survey also reported increased vacancies from smaller companies, some of whom may have been recruiting graduates for the first time.

At the other end of the scale larger companies, who might have ceased recruitment altogether in earlier recessions, have continued taking on graduates - perhaps to avoid future shortages - although many have reduced numbers and are making more use of internships and temporary posts.

AGCAS reports that the overall picture is mixed as there are still plenty of graduates from previous years competing for posts, but there are some clear signs for optimism.

This will be the last post this year, so here's to wish all reading this a Merry Christmas and an Employable New Year!

Retail Recruitment Sector Overview

We hold a copy of a recent summary of recruitment requirements and deadline dates for dome of the main graduate employers in the retail sector.

Some of the employers covered are Vodafone, HSBC, the Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Asda and Tesco.

If you would like an electronic copy, please send a request to careers@cumbria.ac.uk

Large Retail Employers Don't Want CVs...

...according to the input of Retail Sector members of the Association of Graduate Recruiters at a meeting with Careers Advisers' representatives last month.

They felt it is particularly important to understand that larger companies only have an online application system and do not accept CVs.

A “Please see my CV” response to questions on the online application has been a recurrent problem for them. Recruiters also say that the questions asked on applications should be approached just as intensively as an interview question.

In particular Asda has noted that despite receiving 4,000 applications online, many were of poor quality and the company is still recruiting.