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Employing graduates is long term investment

Employing graduates could be the best way to beat the recession, according to one human resources expert.

Thousands of students will be entering into the job market this summer, and with depressing statistics showing that there is an average of 80 applicants for each position, it is little wonder than many turn towards low end output to make ends meet.

John Hunter, director of True North Human Capital believes the market is strongest for high skill workers, and many businesses believe that employing these individuals will be of most benefit to their company.

Conversely, many are reluctant to employ graduates due to their lack of experience. Furthermore, when businesses are prepared to take on these individuals, graduates can be unwilling to take on the unglamorous jobs offered to them.

This problem can be linked the fact that there are 140,000 fewer public sector jobs available than under the Labour government. It also a contributing factor to youth unemployment figures, which continue to sit around the 20% mark.

In terms of preparing for the future of their companies, Mr Hunter recommends looking towards the vast pool of graduate talent.

He said: “For employers bold enough and brave enough to bite the bullet, this may be a once in a generation opportunity to cherry pick the best graduate talent in the market, and to stock up their boardrooms for the 2030s.

“Instead of cancelling their graduate programmes, for many businesses this is probably the time to expand them”

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