Totaljobs.com, is to launch this year’s Gradu8.com, the largest online careers fair created in response to the apparent divide between what students want from their university careers service and what is on offer.
According to research from Totaljobs.com, the lack of support for students is leading to only six percent gaining a graduate role, with a further two thirds taking any job to pay the bills. Furthermore, over one third (35%) of students have claimed benefits in the last six months which underlines the difficulties surrounding the current graduate labour market.
Gradu8.com, entering its third year, will run for five days between 8th and 12th November incorporating careers advice as well as interactive seminars with top graduate employers to help students better understand their career options in an attempt to bridge the graduate knowledge gap.
Mike Fetters, Graduate Director, Totaljobs.com explains: “It is a very tough job market for graduates right now and students can’t afford to leave their preparation for work after their studies come to an end. To ensure that they don’t go straight into unemployment or a job they don’t want following university, students will need advice and the opportunity to engage with employers to know what is required of them.”
Despite a tough jobs market conditions, only half of students polled had made full use of their University Careers Advisory service and of these 60% said it had failed them. In contrast, Gradu8 offers a chance for students and graduates to connect directly with employers to gain insight and valuable guidance on how to be successful when applying for a graduate role.
The service comes at a time when graduate employment has risen to its highest level for 17 years, according to a Higher Education Careers Services Unit (Hecsu) survey, further underlining the need for graduate careers help.
