Category Archives: Graduates

Graduates, Hybrid Working, News, Recruitment

Survey reveals businesses that don’t offer hybrid work risk missing out on two-thirds of graduate talent pool

  • Research by International Workplace Group has found that half of UK graduates (49%) would not apply for a job that didn’t offer hybrid working
  • Graduates say hybrid working is equivalent to a 13% salary increase
  • More than half (54%) believe hybrid working is as important as a competitive salary
  • This comes as Amazon mandates 5-day office attendance, while major corporations including PwC and Santander require three days out of five

Corporations that do not offer hybrid working risk missing out on the best graduate talent, according to new research released this month.

A study by International Workplace Group among more than 1,000 graduates and students found that half (49%) wouldn’t consider applying to jobs that required them to be in a central office five days a week while a further 18% would need to seriously consider it. This leaves companies that do not offer flexible working arrangements potentially just a third (33%) of graduates to select from when filling their graduate schemes.

The research was undertaken among job seekers that graduated this year and students in their final year at university who are looking for graduate roles and comes as the autumn corporate graduate scheme window opens. It follows the news that large businesses such as Amazon, PwC and Santander have begun to mandate days required in the staff.

The time and money spent commuting was the biggest deterrent (83%) to graduates when considering jobs requited a daily journey into a central office. Graduates felt that hybrid working was equivalent to a 13% boost in salary because of savings made on travel and housing.

This is supported by recent economic analysis by International Workplace Group and Development Economics which found that a 24-year-old Gen Z worker living in a popular commuter town such as Cambridge could expect to save up to £323,458 over the course of their working lifetime by splitting their time between a city centre HQ office and working locally.

While a competitive salary (74%) remains the number one priority for most graduates, more than half (54%) ranked hybrid working and salary as being of equal importance. Hybrid working (62%) was ranked ahead of a range of other key benefits including a desirable office location (56%), workplace culture (53%), access to health insurance (25%) and a good pension scheme (21%).

While younger workers are clear in their preference for hybrid working, they value collaborative time in the office. 63% believe time in the office is necessary to work collaboratively and learn from more senior colleagues while almost all (96%) said balancing time in a central office with local workspaces closer to where they live would be an attractive benefit for future job prospects.

Mark Dixon, CEO of International Workplace Group, said: “Businesses that do not offer hybrid working risk missing out on the best young talent. For many, flexibility is not a perk, but a necessity, and they will not consider jobs that require a long commute five days a week.” 

“Flexible working offers further benefits to businesses beyond employee retention. The hybrid model is proven to boost workforce productivity and job satisfaction while also cutting costs significantly. It’s no surprise therefore that more and more businesses continue to embrace hybrid working for the long term”.

 

Career Development, Careers, Graduates

Graduate Coach: Bridging the gap between degrees and employment for graduates

UK University graduates are increasingly underprepared and struggling to secure meaningful employment.  While 61% of 2022 graduates secured jobs within 15 months of leaving university, many discovered these roles were unrelated to their degrees, lacked career progression, or did not meet their expectations.

Graduate Coach, the UK’s leading career coaching service, is addressing this pressing issue head-on by offering graduates’ critical tools and the coaching they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive job market.

Key challenges facing graduates

Graduate Coach highlights five factors contributing to the difficulties graduates are facing:

  1. The graduate job famine: Economic shifts, increased automation, and the changing nature of industries have led to fewer traditional positions for graduates. Many are forced into underemployment, accepting jobs that don’t align with their qualifications or long-term career goals.
  1. Lack of university support: Although universities provide academic knowledge, many fail to offer practical career guidance. Graduates often leave higher education without the skills needed to effectively navigate the job market, such as interview techniques, networking strategies, and knowledge of modern recruitment practices.
  2. AI-Optimised CVs: Modern recruitment software uses AI to screen CVs, making it crucial for candidates to understand how to structure their applications. Many graduates are unaware their CVs must be tailored to pass these automated screening tools, leading to missed opportunities.
  3. Need for work experience: Employers today expect graduates to have real-world experience, making internships or work placements vital. Yet, many graduates struggle to secure such opportunities during their studies, leaving them at a disadvantage when entering the job market.
  4. Interview skills and video interviews: With over 80% of employers now using video interviews as a primary tool for screening candidates, graduates are expected to excel in this format. However, many find themselves unprepared, lacking the confidence and technical skills needed to make a strong impression on camera.

Chris Davies, founder of Graduate Coach said: “Our goal is to prepare graduates for every aspect of the modern recruitment process. The stark reality of today’s job market is there are fewer graduate-level roles, and those that do exist demand a unique blend of skills that universities simply aren’t teaching. Graduates need to be equipped with work experience, interview confidence, and AI-compliant CVs to even get a foot in the door.”

Comprehensive career coaching for graduates

Graduate Coach offers a wide range of services tailored to help graduates succeed in the modern job market, including:

  • Coaching: Personalised sessions that help graduates identify their strengths, set career goals, and develop strategies for success.
  • Interview skills training: Extensive practice for both video and in-person interviews, ensuring candidates are prepared to shine in any format.
  • Skills assessments: Helping graduates recognise their transferable skills and communicate their value to potential employers across various roles.
  • AI-Optimised CV and application support: Assistance with crafting CVs and cover letters that not only capture recruiters’ attention but also pass AI screening tools used by many companies.
  • Internship placement opportunities: Facilitating valuable internship experiences that help graduates gain critical work experience and build professional networks.

 

For more information about Graduate Coach visit www.graduatecoach.co.uk.