The Graduate Market in 2014

Stephen IsherwoodChief Executive

Association of Graduate Recruiters

The graduate market in 2014

1. Changes in the hiring market2. Recruiting trends

Have we turned the corner?

Expected percentage change in vacancies from 2011-2012 to 2012-2013 by sector

Consulting or business services firm 36.3%

Energy, water or utility company 30.8%

IT/Telecommunications 14.6%

Engineering or industrial company 10.1%

Retail 9.7%

Public sector 5.2%

Investment bank or fund managers No change

Law firm -5.4%

FMCG company -10.5%

Accountancy or professional services firm

-17.1%

Banking or financial services -45.1%

But the landscape is very familiar

Predicted vacancies by sector

% of 18,913 vacancies

Accountancy or professional services firm 18.7%

Engineering or industrial company 14.9%

Retail 10.3%

Public sector 10.0%

Banking or financial services 9.4%

IT/Telecommunications 8.7%

Law firm 6.8%

Investment bank or fund managers 4.3%

Consulting or business services firm 2.9%

Energy, water or utility company 2.8%

FMCG company 2.2%

Transport or logistics company 1.3%

Insurance company 0.9%

Construction company or consultancy 0.9%

Other 1.9%

A buyers market again?

Base population 735,000Base GDP 2012 - £1,541,000mSource: Office for National Statistics

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Actual GDP16 yr olds

How big is my market really?

Graduated 2:1/1st 230,000 Medicine, dentistry etc 27,000 Further study 48,000 Traveling etc 14,000Market size 141,0007% interested in accounting 9,870Big 6 vacancies 5,000

Talent spotting

• Shift in emphasis to talent spotting• Candidate processing outsourced• Campus brand building (ROI)• Early identification

– Internships– One-year placements– First year spring weeks

• Degree partnerships

Early targeting

• Early talent identification• Is the final year application too late?• ROI on fairs, presentations and generic

sponsorship

Internships

Sandwich or industrial placements

Work placements

Other types of placements

77.3%

53.4%

30.7%

6.8%

What does good look like?

1. An ability to work collaboratively with teams of people2. Excellent communication skills: both speaking and listening 3. A high degree of drive and resilience 4. Ability to analyse make sense of complex situations5. An ability to embrace multiple perspectives and challenge

thinking 6. A capacity to develop new skills and behaviours according to role

requirements 7. A high degree of self-awareness 8. An ability to negotiate and influence 9. An ability to form professional networks10. Awareness of issues affecting sector applied to

What does good look like?

• Practically intelligent problem solver• Can get things done with and through

others• Passion to do the job

A global mind-set

What it isn’t:

• Can’t work with different cultures

• Has no interest in what is happening in other countries

• Inflexible approach to work

Developing a global mind-set

• Cross-cultural experience

• Learn a new language

• Travel/work/study abroad

• Solve problems flexibly

• Read the Economist

In summary

• Increasing competition for talent• Earlier targeting• Focus on ROI• Addition of a global mindset• Employers getting serious about social

mobility

Questions?