• 53% of graduates are feeling optimistic about their future career prospects
• 37% of respondents claim the media has left them feeling unable to get a job
• The use of smartphones for job searching has risen from 20% in 2012 to 33% in 2013

Following on from their Career Confidence Breakfast event which took place earlier this month – Graduate recruitment website – Milkround have published their second, exclusive annual Student and Graduate Career Confidence Report today (Thursday 2nd May 2013).

In February and March 2013 Milkround sent out their annual Student and Graduate Career Confidence Survey to their database. The survey collected views of over 2,000 students and graduates on a range of topics including where they get their career inspiration from, how media reports affect them and whether they are optimistic or pessimistic towards the economy, university fees and job opportunities. This research has formed the basis for their annual Career Confidence Report.

This year’s report is particularly interesting as it’s the first time that a year on year comparison has been made on the career confidence of students and graduates with some surprising similarities and shifts in opinion.

It was reported that 53% of graduates are feeling optimistic about their future career prospects. There was some pessimism around the subject of getting a graduate job after university, with only 31% feeling positive, however there was much more optimism (56%) around getting any job once they have completed their degrees.

When asked what would make them feel more confident in their future job prospects – 55% reported that a qualification from a professional body would be the most effective, 52% stated a career mentor would build their confidence and 47% cited that regular meetings with a career advisor would be advantageous.

71% of all respondents reported that their main concern about finding a graduate job is the level of competition which was a 2% year on year increase. Other main concerns were attributed to there being too few graduate jobs available, along with concerns surrounding a lack of relevant experience.

Milkround asked respondents to name one word which best describes how they are feeling about their current career prospects – a huge 36% stated that they are “Worried”. This was three times the amount of the next most popular words with 12% reporting they were feeling “cautious” or “depressed”.

The report goes on to break down the demographics by first year, mid-term, finalists and graduates – gaging their feelings towards a number of factors including their career prospects, salary and the economy. Not only are we presented with their current opinions but we also get an insight into how respondents predict they will be feeling about these particular topics in six months’ time. The general consensus was that students and graduates would begin to feel more positive about these topics in time.

What is strikingly clear from the research is the negative influence in which the media continues to play in student and graduate career confidence, with 37% of respondents claiming it has left them feeling unable to get a job.

This year the report also collected responses with regards to what devices students and graduates are using to search for graduate jobs. Respondents using a smartphone for their job search have risen from 20% in 2012 to 33% in 2013. The use of tablets also grew from 3% in 2012 to 17% in 2013.

Milkround spokesperson Simon Pullin said: “It’s clear that students and graduates need support from recruiters to reassure them that graduate jobs are available, this can only be achieved by providing relevant and accessible information through the channels which they are most comfortable in using. Our survey indicates that advertising on graduate job sites which are compatible with Mobile and tablet is the most effective way of promoting vacancies to this demographic. Job searching via smartphone and tablet is clearly on the rise as a young tech-savvy audience aim to fit their graduate job search into their busy lifestyle.”

Simon added “The career confidence of students and graduates has taken a hit, but there is optimism that the situation will improve with a little time, some work experience and a professional qualification.”

You can find Milkround’s full Career Confidence Report HERE.

When leaving the house which three items will the vast majority of us feel lost without?

1. Wallet or purse
2. House keys
3. Our mobile phone!

Research conducted in 2012 by www.mobithinking.com reported that over 50% of the UK owns a smartphone making us the third highest in the world after China and the USA. The Smartphone has revolutionised the way we search the internet, integrating it within our daily routine and making information accessible almost anywhere, any time.

Smartphone penetration is even higher amongst 16-24 year olds who have grown up alongside mobile technology and the internet and predictions for 2013 suggest that these figures are set to continue growing meaning that there is a real emphasis on mobile marketing, providing information on the move.

Results from a www.milkround.com survey conducted in collaboration with AIA aimed at students and recent graduates reported that more than 50% of respondents would use their mobile device for searching and registering their interest for jobs, although a lot fewer actually use their mobile as a final application tool. This suggests that students and graduates opt for a multi-platform approach to job hunting. Searching and registering their interest in products, services and vacancies via their mobile and completing the application process on a laptop or desktop.

Recruiters must take note of these growing trends and consider incorporating mobile into their multi-platform recruitment campaigns. The use of mobile banners, QR codes and advertising graduate vacancies and company profiles across mobile enabled sites are great examples of how mobile can be used to target the finest graduate talent.

The Milkround survey went on to report that students and graduates are using their mobile devices more than desktop computers to access social media. The most used platform for accessing social media was the laptop but forecasts suggest that mobile will be leading the way by the end of 2013.

These statistics should act as an indicator to recruiters that a multi-platform approach incorporating mobile in a recruitment campaign will result in much higher vacancy and company profile views, and in turn an increase in applications. 

Charities are being offered free access to online training courses from online management and leadership trainers IME. The company is offering access to 200 charities as part of its CSR activities.

Each chosen organisation can receive places on the IME nationally accredited online training course for their employees, to be used at any time during the year. This training is worth up to £11,250 per annum, say IME. Selected charities are asked to pay £4 a month per employee to cover IME’s online platform support.

IME provides courses to companies across the UK, from the FTSE 100 to small and medium sized organisations.

The partnership support would include:

National accreditation in Management Development and Leadership Skills for staff to use anytime during the year.

Charities can choose to receive 12 or 25 employee places available per annum

Each employee will have access to the IME learner platform so they can learn at their own pace

Access to tutorial videos, accredited worksheets and a range of online support channels.

One-to-one online support from qualified IME trainers

Each employee will receive a national accreditation on completion of the course.

http://inspiremotivateandengage.com/supporting_charities.html

Milkround announces exclusive partnership with Inspire Motivate Engage cementing their vision of providing career confidence.

Partnership with IME mentoring service offers Milkround users the chance to become part of this national mentoring programme.

Milkround is delighted to announce an exclusive partnership with Inspire Motivate Engage to offer a mentoring scheme to Milkround subscribers.

The partnership fits with Milkround’s vision of giving students and graduate career confidence by pairing IME’s skilled mentors with Milkround users who would like to learn from an expert.

The IME national mentoring programme supports young unemployed people aged 16 to 24 to explore career choices and improve their employability.

The programme matches the young person’s aspirations to the mentor’s field of expertise.This allows the mentor to share valuable career insights with the aim of helping the young person improve their CV and interview technique to increase their competitive edge.

Those who successfully complete the IME mentor programme will be awarded the IME award, which includes nationally recognised learning credits Level 1&2 to help them get ahead.

The scheme is set to launch at the end of February. Anyone interested in getting involved will be able to sign up via Milkround. To find out more, register with Milkround at http://www.milkround.com.

IME CEO Claire Atkinson said: “IME is delighted to partner with Milkround. This partnership will allow us to help more young people in need of career advice and support whilst getting one step closer to employment. Together we will make a difference to the lives and prospects for young unemployed people across the UK.”

Milkround Marketing Manager Alex Sydney added: “This is a really exciting partnership for Milkround. We want to give our students and graduates real insights into the world of work and the confidence they need to get a job. We are proud to be working with IME, offering our users the opportunity to improve their employability and our employees the opportunity to become involved in the mentoring scheme, reaffirming our commitment to provide career confidence”.

More about the IME mentoring scheme

• 98% of IME mentoring relationships have been rated by both parties as successful and are still on-going after three months.
• 95% of members use the online mentoring platform on a weekly basis.
• 94% of the mentors plan to introduce the young person to opportunities within their company via its graduate training or internship programme.

IME mentors are business professionals who want to make a difference from just one hour per week. Mentoring can take place face to face or online via the IME mentoring platform, making it easy for mentors to take part and fit around their busy schedules.

Each mentor receives online accredited management training the IME programme, which helps the mentor to develop their management skills and learn how to facilitate growth in others, thus allowing them to achieve an accreditation while making a difference.
IME is always looking for new mentors to join the programme and works with companies and business professionals across the UK. Those interested should visit http://www.inspiremotivateandengage.org.

For small and medium sized enterprises the recruitment process can represent a daunting process. Recruiting the right candidate at the right price and quickly is not always as simple as it may seem. There are an abundance of ways companies can advertise jobs in an effort to find that right individual, however if the wrong recruitment campaign is chosen, you may find yourself spending a lot of time re-advertising, re-interviewing or simply employing the wrong person. The process can represent a big financial risk stretching resources to the max!

Traditional methods of advertising such as print can often prove ineffective and online account managed services may be too expensive for small and medium sized businesses. Larger companies advertising on these platforms are regularly able to offer larger salaries and incentives which make these roles more favorable to the top candidates. Advertising alongside larger companies with greater budgets and more expertise may cast a shadow over smaller campaigns.

Here at Milkround we’ve recognised the demand for a cost effective and quick solution to recruitment for a typical SME. Milkround’s Recruiters Direct allows even the smallest company to promote jobs which will reach the same number and calibre of job seekers as the larger ones. It’s our simple and effective answer to advertising a position to a huge audience for a single one off payment; the ultimate solution for the time poor businesses with limited resources that need to recruit and fast!

For a single one off payment starting from as little as £320; visit http://recruiters.milkround.com/ your package includes:

1. Your branded advert and company profile live on www.Milkround.com for two weeks. The site receives over 500,000 visits from students and graduates every month and has been voted ‘the most used graduate recruitment website’ for the past five years*.

2. An email to our exclusive database of over 750,000 students and graduates.

3. Receive all applications directly to your email or to your preferred URL.

4. As an extra incentive we’re now including an onsite button in our standard package which is completely free of charge! To take advantage of this offer please complete the onsite booking and then email your button and URL with the subject line: 

‘Free Button’ to: support@milkround.com Please include your company name within the email.

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- Please note that this offer is only valid until 31st January 2013

Upload you advert today at http://recruiters.milkround.com/ and target the most talented students and graduate talent!

*high fliers research 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012