Graduates ignore career advice at university Milkround News, 12 October 2009 Research has revealed the 30,000 graduates who didn’t do enough to find jobs this year probably didn’t use the career advice available to them at university. Onrec reports the Higher Education Careers (HECSU) servicer found almost two thirds of those graduating this year never visited their careers service, and less than half attended careers events. The importance of career planning in the early stages of university seems to have been overlooked by the class of 09. The HECSU’s Futuretrack is a major study that surveyed 49,555 students as they were finishing their first year or starting their second year in higher education. Jane Artess, director of research at HECSU commissioned the research. She says: "Students usually have a pretty rosy outlook when starting university, with their initial focus on making friends, social activities and generally having fun. We’ve surveyed them as they reach the end of their first year to provide insight into their actual experiences; painting a more accurate and rounded picture of university life. "It’s concerning to hear that despite the importance of early career planning being extensively reported and the wide availability of resources, the majority of students lack a long-term perspective. We can now see those same students entering the workplace; immensely underprepared for a job hunt during a recession." Professor Kate Purcell from the Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick added: "The fact is, despite the efforts made by higher education institutions to encourage students to consider options and explore sources of information and guidance from the outset of their studies, the majority had made little effort to investigate the resources available to them." When considering further study, fewer than a third of students did not plan any additional training or education after completing of their course expect to go straight into employment on graduation. The study also found that students on a vocational course were more likely to state their experience had reinforced their career plans than those studying general discipline-based academic subjects.

Graduates ignore career advice at university

Milkround News, 12 October 2009
Graduates ignore career advice at university

Research has revealed the 30,000 graduates who didn’t do enough to find jobs this year probably didn’t use the career advice available to them at university.

Onrec reports the Higher Education Careers (HECSU) servicer found almost two thirds of those graduating this year never visited their careers service, and less than half attended careers events. The importance of career planning in the early stages of university seems to have been overlooked by the class of 09.

The HECSU’s Futuretrack is a major study that surveyed 49,555 students as they were finishing their first year or starting their second year in higher education.

Jane Artess, director of research at HECSU commissioned the research. She says: "Students usually have a pretty rosy outlook when starting university, with their initial focus on making friends, social activities and generally having fun. We’ve surveyed them as they reach the end of their first year to provide insight into their actual experiences; painting a more accurate and rounded picture of university life.

"It’s concerning to hear that despite the importance of early career planning being extensively reported and the wide availability of resources, the majority of students lack a long-term perspective. We can now see those same students entering the workplace; immensely underprepared for a job hunt during a recession."

Professor Kate Purcell from the Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick added: "The fact is, despite the efforts made by higher education institutions to encourage students to consider options and explore sources of information and guidance from the outset of their studies, the majority had made little effort to investigate the resources available to them."

When considering further study, fewer than a third of students did not plan any additional training or education after completing of their course expect to go straight into employment on graduation. The study also found that students on a vocational course were more likely to state their experience had reinforced their career plans than those studying general discipline-based academic subjects.

Comments (10):

Christopher H
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Does the HECSU report take into consideration those students who are on sports teams that train three nights a week, and represent their universities twice a week, and go on tour once a month? I was captain of a university sports team, and gained full colours, then quit to do a MSc. Whilst doing my MSc I applied to many organoisations to work with them (for free) as a consultant, I sent out over 100 applications and received 0 replies. If I did not apply for the part time job I work in now before I gained my MSc then I would be out of work, as they admitted to me that I would be over qualified to do the role I am currently doing and there are no responses coming back to me over graduate jobs, as apparently there are many more people out there with experience. This country will have a mounting dole crisis soon to add to its financial woe, as I know half my friends have signed up just this year after graduating.