If you trawl the major news publications and their respective websites you may notice a common theme in the sections devoted to graduate employment: High Fliers Research. This organisation has, for the last eighteen years, "been at the forefront of graduate recruitment research at the UK's leading universities." So that's the introductions sorted.
Now, as was mentioned on this site last week, the report for 2012 forecasts "a 6.4% increase in graduate job vacancies from 2011". While this is good news, it emerges alongside the slightly problematic statistic that "applications from graduates have risen 19% from last year."
Reasons? Well it's a combination of climate and condition. On the one hand, the economy isn't as good as it could be. On the other, and largely as a result of this, recruiters are more keen on those individuals with work experience or an internship under their belts.
That's a lot of hands and belts to be getting on with. Anyway, now seems like a good opportunity to bombard you all with some of the other interesting revelations emerging from the report. So whilst the market seems to be recovering, it should be noted - in true party-pooping fashion - that "graduate recruitment at the UK's leading employers remains below pre-recession levels." Heating up the competition still further is the prospect of an extra 50,000 new graduates expected to leave university this summer, compared with the numbers available from five years ago.
Meanwhile, the final bit of sobering news for the week - I promise, I know how much it upsets you - is that starting salaries at the UK's leading graduate employers are expected to remain unchanged for a third consecutive year. To end on a pleasing note, however, this is a median of £29,000.
Ok, you may have been expecting more. You probably weren't expecting quite so much competition, either. But, as a starting point, if you gain the correct experience, it isn't to be sniffed at. Although, if you want that little bit extra, the report suggests looking into work with investment banks, law firms and oil and energy companies.
