Research published last month highlighted that employers failed to meet their graduate recruitment targets in 2010/11, with the same anticipated for 2012.

The Association of Graduate Recruiters’ (AGR) survey of graduate recruitment reported that the number of employers who had not met their graduate recruitment targets increased to 32.3%, up 6.2% from the previous year.

Although some explanations for this failure included a reduction in graduates applying for the vacancies, other reasons included a lack of suitable candidates and poor applications. Employers stated graduate’s skill levels, not the level of qualifications, quite often fell short of what the vacancies required.

Yet, where the education and skills did meet the business needs, the graduates applications were of a poor quality. One employer noted “If I had one key message to get across it would be, yes, there's competition, but just make sure that every single application submitted is the best they can possibly do".

So, how can you, a graduate wanting to find work in Sheffield, ensure you have the skills to meet the demands required in the world of business, and then submit the application to prove it?

1.    Research

·         Find out the skills required in the career you want.

Read job adverts and send for job descriptions. From these, familiarise yourself with what employers require, comparing what you have, or need to develop. 

·         Assess yourself

Online self-assessments will help you gauge your personal strengths and weakness, as will talking to family and friends! By comparing the results with those required in your chosen job, you will have an idea of what you need to develop.

2.   Gain the  skills

·         Get involved

Begin doing the job you want to do. Start taking all kinds and styles of photographs if you want to be a photographer, or build websites if you desire programming.  If you are interested in sports nutrition try working with local, amateur sports people, e.g. a local football team or cycling club. 

·         Do what the professionals do

Go one step further, by using industry standards. Whether it is the techniques used or the equipment, familiarise yourself with what employers use.

·         Volunteer

Volunteering organisations are a great place to gain skills. If you want to boost the credentials of a Youth and Community degree, mentor a young person through a local scheme. Volunteering centres, such as Voluntary Action Sheffield, can assist in finding places.

·         Practice

Personal skills can be practiced all the time. If you have poor listening skills, then investigate what makes a good listener and practice with everyone you meet! If your parents or housemates say your room is always a mess or you leave the kitchen a state, then start to become organised.

3.   Make a great application

·         Plan

Using the job descriptions you gathered earlier, begin the application process by writing all the type of skills you have, together with an understanding of what that skill involves and all the instances you have applied it. Also write all the details of your education and employers: names, dates qualifications and achievements

·         Document the information

Write a document with all the information you have gathered, writing it formally and attractively to sell what you can offer. Use typical application form headings such as Education, Employment, etc.

This document will be your reference point and will be constantly updated. The information it contains will be used in every application, maybe with a different emphasis or in a different format such as a CV or your profile page on jobs4everyone.co.uk. Every experience or skill you gain, ensure you document it. 

·         Get feedback

Always write a draft of the application form or CV before writing the final version. Show it to a trusted person who can give you critical feedback. Once alterations are made, then, and only then, send the application off, keeping a copy for reference.

Summary

To get in the best position to find work, academia will certainly help. As the AGR research showed, graduate jobs are still available.

However, by gaining practical skills and the ability to prove to employers you have them, you won’t become just another statistic in 2012.