Unsurprisingly, unlike those endearing yet frighteningly eloquent and business savvy youngsters on The Junior Apprentice, the class of 2010 isn't feeling particularly confident when it comes to job prospects.
Last week saw the release of the The UK Graduate Careers Survey 2010 — an annual graduate careers survey from market research company High Fliers Research — and it revealed only a third of final year students are expecting to find work on graduation.
Although the survey did point to some improved conditions — for example, half of employers expect to recruit more graduates this year and leading employers have upped recruitment targets by 11.8% — it seems many of the more prepared students and grads from last year have already got their applications in — more than a quarter of this year's entry-level positions have already been filled.
But don't let the stats get you down — prepare yourself for the market as much as you can.
Faced with high numbers of quality candidates, lots of graduate employers recruit via assessment centres. So, having covered, CVs, interviews and presentations in recent weeks, we're going to be offering a guide to assessment centres — exploring all the tasks and tests to expect and how to impress at them.
If you have an assessment centre appointment coming up, want to find out more about the process, or perhaps you have a success or horror story to share, post your question for our expert panel here now.
The panel:
James Meachin is a principal psychologist at the business psychology firm Pearn Kandola. He works with blue chip companies and government departments on the design and delivery of all aspects of assessments from attraction to online screening and assessment centres. He is also the co-author of You're Hired! Psychometric Tests: proven tactics to help you pass.
Claire Taylor is a senior business psychologist at Mendas, a provider of assessment centres. Claire specialises in designing and delivering bespoke assessment solutions grounded in the latest thinking from psychology theory. She also has extensive hands on experience as an assessor, interviewer and leader of assessment centres.
Keith Chaplin-Mabbutt, CEO, CVSEEME.COM — a graduate recruitment website — and director, EnhanceUK — an online graduate recruitment consultancy.
Will Mitchell is director of consulting at A&DC — a talent management consultancy. He has more than 15 years of experience in consulting and is a chartered occupational psychologist and assessor on the board of the BPS Occupational Psychology Division.
Bruce Noble, director, Noble HR Solutions — a company which provides human resources and development advice and support. Bruce creates and delivers interactive training and development programs including presentation skills, performance management and recruitment, selection and interview Skills.
The discussion is now open for questions and comments — so get posting!
