As any university leaver will tell you graduate jobs have become extremely competitive as many companies have cut down the number of available places. The number of retail jobs open to graduates, however, is growing and it is therefore a sector that recent graduates are being encouraged to consider.
The totaljobs.com recruiter and jobseeker barometer shows an overall increase of 19 per cent for the amount of vacancies available. Retail vacancies saw a 35 per cent increase, therefore counting for a sizeable amount of the total vacancies available; although this growth is expected to slow in 2011 due to increased tax and rising costs of materials, transport and advertising.
With the disconcerting job situation in the public sector a career in retail is certainly worth consideration.
Service industries account for half of all employment in Kent, according to the University of Kent, and local government, retail, health services, education and financial services are prominent employment areas. Kent’s enviable geographical position as the lead gateway to the UK from mainland Europe creates a significant number of openings in transport, distribution, travel and tourism opportunities for graduates, while jobs in London are not too far out of reach. Kent jobs are in abundance, too.
As totaljobs.com’s memorable current adverts (featuring talking toasters and alarm clocks) point out, changing career and gaining a new job is not just luck, it pays to be prepared. Do your research and look at what is available.
Graduate jobs are increasing in popularity in the retail sector yet declining in others. Large companies, such as KPMG, take graduates for their programmes across Europe leaving a potential skills shortage situation set to arise in the UK.
The 2010/11 annual XpertHR graduate survey discovered that 71.6 per cent of companies are currently recruiting graduates and 84.2 per cent predict they will do so in the near future. This is welcoming news as graduate unemployment reaches its highest level in 17 years.
The same survey discovered that four out of every ten employers were changing the way they recruit graduates. Traditionally, companies work alongside universities to promote their graduate programmes.
Innovative use of the Internet showed that in addition to traditional methods, the new ideas were effective. Companies that had changed their recruitment drives to incorporate the use of job sites and corporate websites are citing them as the most successful method of graduate recruitment.
Internet job sites offer both employer and employee key benefits. Saving time and money are the biggest areas. Taking control of recruitment is empowering for companies that for many years may have had to use specialist job vacancies and an important step for graduates looking to make an impression.
The biggest barrier to graduate recruitment was stated last year as the calibre of the students. By using the Internet, students can prove their initiative and present their skills more accurately than through an agency. Employers consider the user’s profile in full when making decisions and it pays to spend a little time getting it right.
Graduate recruitment can be less of a chore when you can have employers come to you based on information that you put on your online CV and employment profile. Jobs can be sought out geographically and at the click of a mouse, you have the research and tools you need to compare and decide which career path is best for you.
Even with the financial troubled times we have now, retail graduate recruitment could be the best decision a graduate can make. Adding your CV online, active research of Kent and London and helpful advice from jobsites combined with a positive approach and a good profile statement can result in you getting the dream job you want. Retail or not, it’s not just luck. |
