Member Article

Graduates face 'wall of fear'

Students have hit a “wall of fear” when they try to enter the job market, a business advisory firm has warned.

A slowing economy combined with a shrinking graduate job market is creating the perception that there is too much competition in the work place, according to Deloitte.

A recent survey found that 52% of new graduates regarded job prospects as “very limited” – the highest figure the survey has ever had since it began in 1995.

John Charlton, Graduate Recruitment Partner at Deloitte in Newcastle, said: “Too much anxiety about jobs prospects and debt can be damaging to students’ future prospects.

“We must help graduates avoid the ‘career paralysis’ trap which is often triggered when fear sets in and inaction takes over.”

John added: “Conversations with graduates throughout the interview process for 2009 has flagged up worrying trends. One is the heightened concern amongst applicants that jobs are almost non-existent and if they exist they are unobtainable.”

Barbara Phillips-Kerr, Assistant Director at the Careers Service for Newcastle University, said: “Our experience is that this year more students and graduates are worried about the job market. We advise them that whilst being flexible is important, the key to getting a job is to be focused and to be able to demonstrate a real awareness of the sector to which they are applying.

“A scattergun approach is exhausting and unlikely to be successful. Employers expect applicants to have a good understanding of their business and submit an application that is tailored to the post.

“There are still jobs out there, simply the competition is much greater than in recent years. Graduates have to work even harder to stand out as an applicant.

“As well as being focused, this includes looking to exploit all their experiences - paid and unpaid - to highlight their skills and to demonstrate their suitability for the job.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .