| Recent university leavers looking to gain an edge in the | | | | normalise and to begin the process of recovery." |
| increasingly competitive graduate recruitment market | | | | The latest Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) |
| have been advised by employers on the best ways to | | | | report has shown that the amount of graduate job |
| get ahead once they leave higher education. | | | | cuts is much less than predicted. |
| In the recent Association of Graduate Recruiters | | | | Graduate job vacancies did fall by 8.9 per cent but this |
| (AGR) survey which questioned 214 graduate | | | | figure represents a considerably smaller reduction in |
| employers across Britain, different pieces of advice | | | | degree-level jobs than the 24.9 per cent that was |
| were ranked in order of value to help those looking for | | | | predicted, suggesting that recruitment in this sector is |
| degree-level jobs make the right choices. | | | | rallying as the country leaves recession. |
| The need to conduct in-depth research into employers | | | | Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR, said: |
| and sectors was rated the smartest course of action, | | | | "Today's survey suggests that the graduate |
| closely followed by actively gaining interview practice | | | | employment market is starting to normalise and to |
| and showing a willingness to relocate. | | | | begin the process of recovery. |
| Those forced to delay their search for a graduate job | | | | "A small decrease following a large one the year |
| were recommended to either take temporary paid | | | | before is consistent with previous trends and, by 2011, |
| work, skills training or unpaid work, while taking a gap | | | | we could be seeing vacancy increases for the first |
| year was considered a less popular decision. | | | | time since 2008. It is heartening to see employers |
| The lowest-ranked decision for graduates to make | | | | remain steadfast in their commitment to graduates." |
| was to embark on another further education | | | | The survey is based on the responses of 214 of the |
| qualification. | | | | country's graduate recruiters who employed 19,247 |
| Overall the survey was positive and Carl Gilleard, chief | | | | graduates in 2009 across more than 20 business |
| executive of the AGR, said: "Today's survey suggests | | | | sectors. |
| that the graduate employment market is starting to | | | | |