FAQ

First of all we would recommend that you seek proper qualified advice from a trained careers advisor. They may ask you to complete a vocational interest questionnaire as these seem to be good starting point to identify possible career options from the patterns that emerge from your responses. Common characteristics in those that appeal should reveal a job or career path would hold the most likely promise of satisfaction. After your careers interview you may take a more structured approach to your career aims.

Many of us don't exactly know what to do after they leave university and we happen to stumble into jobs, then make the best of what we have. Some never find their perfect job straightaway and in which case it should be highlighted that you may have to consider other positions so at least you will be earning a good salary which will allow you to pursue your ambitions elsewhere.

Answer #2

Consultancy is a very competitive area to get into. Even when recruitment in this sector is buoyant, vacancies are fiercely contested due to the popularity of consultancy among students leaving university. The latest AGR (Association of Graduate Recruiters) shows its members plan to take around 8% more graduates this year.

The sector has endured such a tough time recently (redundancies and cost cutting measures) and many analysts predict it is about to undergo its most challenging period yet. Forecasters are predicting improvements in the next 12-18 months, however most agree that the industry will never be what it was 5 or 6 years ago. This turnaround will be largely dependant on a number of factors with the main ones being continuing strong public sector spending and how the political instability in the Middle East affects the global economy.

At the moment graduates are at a disadvantage when applying to consulting firms. Many companies are presently looking for more experienced consultants with extensive industry knowledge and specific expertise. Our advice would be to keep up to date with trends in consulting, gain industry experience and particular skills that may be in short supply before switching to consulting and brush up on any languages skills you may have.

Answer #3

The bigger firms in the accountancy sector will always get inundated with applications and can therefore afford to be selective about who they pick. Many firms believe that there is a correlation between A level points and the ability to succeed at accountancy exams. As firms invest a lot of many money in their trainees they have got be sure that they aren't taking a risk when they choose their graduate intake.

Applying to a smaller firm may be a better option for you if you really want to get into accountancy. You will need to show a genuine interest and aptitude for the profession and you will find that this opens up many new avenues.

It's never to late to gain work experience and this can add weight to any application you make. It shows commitment and desire in the eyes of an employer and it will also help you find out if a job as an accountant will really suit you.

Answer #4

Recruiters use GRB for a number of reasons. Frequently they ask us to advertise vacancies and screen candidates. This means we only introduce candidates to the recruiter that meet their strict requirements - if we didn't they wouldn't use us! We do this by speaking to all respondents, checking their qualifications, finding out what they want to do, where in the country and what kind of salary they are looking for and then forwarding their CV to the recruiters desk. This saves the recruiter lots of time and money and in many cases we act as their HR department as they haven't got one themselves.

Alternatively, another service that larger recruiters tend to use is to advertise on our website with applicants going direct to them. In these situations they handle the response and they have a large HR department to manage applications. We simply increase their profile.

So in answer to your question sometimes you can apply directly and other times not! It depends on the recruiter and the service they use. Check our website for vacancies and the application process should be made apparent.

Answer #5

The database has been designed using the latest technology and is bespoke to our unique requirements. This is how it works. Details from your online form or CV are entered onto our database for the sole purpose of finding you suitable employment.

Your details are cross referred against recruiter job requirements every day. Recruiters look for specific degree subjects, grades, UCAS points, university, location and many more criteria. The database then produces a shortlist of candidates who match the requirements.

We then contact candidates on this list by phone and go through the vacancy in more detail. If the candidate is interested they are then selected to be introduced to the recruiter. We send your CV and try and arrange an interview.

Accuracy of your details is essential and changes to your situation need to be communicated to us at the earliest opportunity as the outcome of searches is dependent on you providing all the details required. We have several quality checks to ensure data is up to date and correct and it is a system that is proven to identify the right candidate for the position efficiently.

Answer #6

Free. At no point are you charged or is anything deducted from your salary. As a profit making organisation we charge recruiters to use our service. We are popular with recruiters because we are competitive and consistently provide high calibre graduates like you!

Answer #7

A consultant will make contact when we have matched your skills to a vacancy and we have a commitment from a client to progress your application. If this doesn't happen immediately, don't worry, your details will remain on our database until a suitable vacancy arises. If however, there are material changes to your circumstances, (e.g. now prepared to relocate, change of address or email etc.) please notify us immediately as depending upon the change.

You should also be proactive. Regularly monitor our website and whenever you see a vacancy of interest inform a consultant who will ensure that your details, once verified for suitability, are submitted to the appropriate company promptly.

We've recently introduced a new service which allows you to receive all our latest vacancies by email each week. You can then tell us more about your preferences and we can customise the types of jobs we send you. You may not be able to apply for every single one but at least they will be in the job category you prefer.

Answer #8

I'm sorry to hear that you are experiencing problems getting work. Unfortunately the telecommunications industry has not been recruiting very strongly in recent years. There are signs of recovery so reecruitment in this area should slowly start to pick up again.

You should look at the OFCOM website, www.ofcom.org.uk, for details of all organisations with telecommunications licences (i.e. the suppliers of telecom services). It also mentions that organisations such as the Post Office, American Express, Sainsbury's, BBC and other major employers are among the big users of telecommunications services. I recommend writing speculative applications to some of these.

I'm sorry that I cannot enthuse about the great opportunities the industry offers. It's our firm belief that we will see an improvement but I expect you would like a job before that. One alternative is to try something else such as control systems, consumer electronics or defence. For example, railway engineering firms are among some of the recruiters actively looking for people like you for signalling and communication systems.

Answer #9

You should email her with a formal reference request, but do it carefully. In a first paragraph, begin the message by indicating that you learned through career research that she is now working at XYZ organisation. Be sure to ask her how she is doing and reiterate how much you enjoyed working for her and what you learned during that experience. In a second paragraph, update her on your current situation, your time since you interned and your current status.

Finally in a third paragraph, indicate that your purpose for writing is to ask if she would be willing to serve as a reference. Be sure to let her know that if she agrees, you'll be respectful of her privacy and only provide the hiring organisation with her preferred contact information after her approval.

You'll also want to let her know that if she is willing, you will follow-up with details on the job description, an overview of the search process, detail on who might be contacting her from the hiring organisation and details on when that contact might occur. Don't forget to attach a copy of your CV, and any information about what gaps the hiring organisation may try to address, or what skill or performance areas might be the focus of the call.

Remember, the more informed your reference, and the easier you make the process, the better the reference will be.

Answer #10

Thank you for your enquiry. Your time spent travelling will be rich with examples of skills you have learnt or developed. Put this across in your CV and employers will really value this time you spent.

As regards your job hunting, many recruiters have a set way of doing things and closing dates will have been missed. However, more recruiters are flexible with regard to this and appreciate todays graduate works on a different schedule. Use your Careers Service and the Internet to find jobs. Tailor your CV to each application and don't give up. Your situation is a very positive one - you just need to market yourself in the best way to the right recruiters!

Answer #11

While it is difficult to say exactly what Cap Gemini will put you through during the group exercises we can offer you a general overview.

Team-working is essential for success in every sphere of work today, so employers devise ways of testing this. Group exercises are designed to reveal whether the candidates are capable of changing from an individual approach to a team solution and producing 'synergy' - the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Most employers use indoor group exercises which are usually hypothetical problems - frequently involving mathematical calculations, interpersonal conflicts and critical time and cost considerations - where there are a range of possible solutions. You are expected to maximise your contribution but also ensure that others' skills and abilities are fully used by the team. Asking other people questions, referring to them by name and acknowledging the value of their ideas are all good things to do as well as putting your own ideas forward.

Assessors are usually more interested in the way the team reaches their solution than in the actual solution chosen although they do also like to see a good result.

Do's and Dont's:

Read the brief and take notes on it so that you remember what it says - everything there will be relevant.
Manage the time - appoint someone in the group to be the time manager.
Apportion the time, for example - 5 minutes to agree how to proceed, 10 minutes gathering and analysing information, 10 minutes to get it all together, five minutes to review at the end.
Look at the equipment provided and use it
Show initiative - play a part, but don't take over
Be supportive - draw out quieter members of the group
Never put the other candidates down
Justify your ideas if challenged but be prepared to compromise

In most tasks there will be a role for everyone, be they leaders, number-crunchers, speakers, or time keepers. The group will be more effective if you elect a time keeper, elect a secretary to make notes on the flip chart and elect a chairperson whose job it is to make sure that everyone contributes and the task is achieved.

Answer #12

Thank you for your enquiry. Many employers have to set a requirement for their roles otherwise they would be inundated with unsuitable applicants which takes up manpower and time. Many will stipulate 2:1, others may look at UCAS points, and a few will even look at GCSEs. Your chances are good in that you want to pursue a career related to your degree. Some people who do a social science degree want to go into IT and it can be very difficult.

A 2:2 in your degree from Warwick is extremely good, but as I mentioned before your grade will unfortunately rule out some jobs. I would be interested to see your CV and then see what employers we are working with who may have relevant work now or in the future. I will need to know your geographical restrictions, if any, your availability and your salary expectations. I will give this my personal attention and get back to you.

Answer #13

It seems that more students are now choosing sandwich courses that include periods of work experience. Some also consider taking an appropriate part-time job that will give them the experience they feel is required after they graduate. However this doesn't help your situation so what we think the agencies or companies are trying to suggest is that you need knowledge skills and experience to be a good bet for the role. You may need to back track a little and get some commercial experience - even if it means starting at the bottom. You may also be able to start to build a track record by doing some work for a charity or voluntary organisation. Many of these are large organisations with commercial arms, despite being called charities.

Answer #14

Many large employers are used to offering jobs in the autumn that do not start until the following summer so it is worth asking whether they can accommodate your request. It does depend on the length of time you wish to defer for and whether you apply for a graduate programme or a job that requires your skills immediately.

When the employer makes an offer, say that you definitely want to work there but would like to defer. Before you start negotiating, be clear about how far you are prepared to compromise. Some employers may have two starting dates - would you prepared to start at the later one? Some employers will not guarantee a place for the following year, so there is an element of risk in taking a year out. At what point are you willing to walk away from the offer? You may want to talk things through with a careers adviser. If the employer agrees to defer the offer, make sure you get the revised offer in writing and that it states a start date and a salary with which you are happy. For example, you might want your salary to be based on what graduate entrants will be being paid on the date you start work. You should accept their offer in writing and keep a copy.

Answer #15

Never leave a chronological gap in a CV. An employer will assume that you were either unemployed or on a very long career break. Record the correct dates on your CV, what and where you studied, the sort of knowledge and skills that you acquired, and your grade. Of course, if you get asked about it at interview you will need to have an answer. However a good interview performance is about turning what you consider to be negative into something positive. If it took you three attempts to get your degree its shows persistence, for starters. But what did you learn from the experience? Has it made you more methodical? Better able to cope with pressure? You need to work on an answer that shows that it made you a stronger and more able person.

Answer #16

I am surprised at your dilemma and that you are deemed over qualified for the roles you are applying to. In regard to your A levels some employers do (for the right or wrong reasons) set a limit. So unfortunately in some cases you may not get past the first hurdle. As for your exemptions speak to the professional association relating to this field for the official line on this (if you haven't already) and seek advice from your university careers service. Keep trying because you clearly have excellent numerical skills and perhaps widen your search geographically.

Answer #17

The answer to your question is yes. Working for an SME is an excellent way to kick start you career. Approaching a company in the SME sector may work out well for you because they tend to pigeon hole people less. We would encourage people to get in touch with local business links on the web or ourselves as we provide information on the really high growth sectors in a particular region. Nowadays we find students and graduates are doing more substantial research into the local job market that goes well beyond the traditional route.

A common misconception among many is that SMEs only provide non-graduate positions. On a couple of occasions we have heard from graduates who have gone into a role that wasn't specifically designed for a graduate, applied their academic knowledge and then found out that the company were so impressed that they were willing to convert the role into a proper graduate job. SMEs can be flexible in many ways and a lack of many tiers of management can make applying easier. The training you receive is superb and is very much a 'hands on' approach from an early stage as you get get to see the full business function rather than moving from department to department.

Answer #18

Your degree background shouldn't be a real problem providing you've got the determination and the ambition to succeed. It is common to find retail employers who run training schemes in buying to consider all disciplines. If there isn't a strong link between your area of study and their business needs then you need to build a case as to why you feel they should select you.

When you are applying you must be able to demonstrate an understanding of what the role of a buyer involves. If you have work experience in buying then it would be a good idea to highlight this in your application. Talk to people in the industry itself to find what they do and how they work. Keep up to date with the latest trends in clothing allowing you to build up a significant amount of research in this area to use for future applications or hopefully interviews!.

Above all you've got to prove you are passionate about fashion. It's a competitive industry to get into and many companies will be looking for key characteristics and experiences not just your degree and A level results.

Answer #19

Generally speaking there are two types of vacancies in HR departments. There will be either jobs where you need to be professionally qualified, i.e. have completed the CIPD's (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) Scheme, or administrative roles for which many do not require a degree.

Graduates regularly target admin jobs because they see them as a way of gaining relevant experience and further training. However many organisations prefer not to recruit graduates to these posts as they need someone to stay in the job rather than use it as a stepping stone to better things.

Many companies will consider you as unqualified for other HR posts until you have completed the CIPD scheme. Lots of universities offer this as part of a full-time postgraduate diploma or an MA in Human Resource Management.

You can either persevere in the search for a suitable admin position that could eventually provide you with access to part-time study or take the option of completing of a full-time course to get yourself qualified quicker.

Answer #20

No this is a common misconception! In fact we do not deal with many recruiters in Brighton. Because we advertise nationally we help students, graduates and recruiters from all parts of the UK.

Due to the nature of the economy many recruiters are based in London and the South East but we deal with many clients in other parts of the UK and identify boom areas like Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester where opportunities exist for graduates.

Answer #21

We would recommend you check first with either the company itself or the agency handling the vacancy on the company's behalf. Ask them for further details as you may find that you have many other of the key attributes they're looking for in the job description and personal specification. If you are going to apply for a job without the relevant experience that an employer is asking for bear in mind that you are going to be up against candidates who have it already. This may decrease your chances of gaining an interview, however if you are keen and believe you have other skills that you can bring to the role then let the company know. Research the job and the company to see who they may have hired in the past. It is a good idea to tailor your CV to the job as it shows you've made an effort, but be careful to backup your comments on "being a good communicator" and "able to work well in a pressurised environment" with good examples to demonstrate it. Having done all this the rest is in the hands of the company and if you do get rejected treat it as a learning curve. There are plenty of graduate entry level jobs that don't require particular work experience - it's more about the academic theory you've learned during your degree and your other key competency skills that will be important.

Answer #22

You are being interviewed for the position for which you applied, but nobody gets 100% of the tasks/responsibilities into the ad/posting. The advertised tasks may be the minimums the employer wants applicants to meet; the interviews are to take those qualified applicants and winnow them down to finalists who meet the unwritten criteria. "Managing a small group" might be a minimum qualification with a hidden agenda: the small group might be assigned to a large project, or the interviewer wants to see if you are capable of "scaling up" to handle a bigger project than previously. Unfortunately you cannot control for these unknowns, and the employer is reasonably going to interview for the job she or he has to fill, not the job description you write for yourself.

If your answers are weak not because you didn't prepare but because you're missing some of the competencies or experience required, you're not right for the job.

There's no joy or judgment in finding you "wrong;" take these experiences as guidance in preparing for future interviews. When you review an ad or job posting, think about not only the requirements and how you meet them, but how you would approach the next logical progression in growing your skill set. If you have good analytical, problem-solving, team management and time management skills, you can handle larger projects than you've previously done. Think how you will answer the sometimes still-asked question, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" Not still running the small projects you've historically managed, right? Also, for jobs for which you don't have exactly the "right" experience, prepare to answer the question "So what gives you the confidence to think you can handle this task when you haven't done one like it?"

And if you come across a series of jobs where you're continually falling short of requirements, think about how to fill the gap? How can you get the experience an employer deems critical? Sometimes it's a two-step process to get to the job you want, by taking an interim job first to fill in the holes in your experience that prospective employers have identified; sometimes you need to beef up a learned skill such as a computer application, a foreign language, or a sales methodology; a refresher course may help.

If you take a pro-active stance on filling employers' requirements, you'll have more success.

Answer #23

The crucial question is why people leave. It's easy to assume high staff turnover equals low morale or poor pay, but that's not always the case.

There is a possibility that the experience this organisation provides is so valuable it enables staff to move on with ease and speed. Reputation is a particularly bad indicator, so check the facts before making a decision.

For example, does this employer have a significantly larger turnover of staff than others in similar work in the same area? Some types of work attract compulsive movers, which doesn't mean those employers are difficult to work for.

Start your research by asking the company itself. It's a legitimate question to raise during an interview or you could wait until offered a post. If it appears to have a problem move on to a discussion on reasons why.

To rely entirely on what the company says would be naive; talking to individuals who work there helps create a more balanced picture.

If you're uncertain once an offer's been made, consider arranging a short placement. There's no substitute for getting the feel of a place.

High turnover can work to your advantage. Lots of movement means lots of vacancies, so your chances of being offered work and fast promotion may be higher than in a more stable setting.

Answer #24

Our strength is providing you with graduate jobs relevant to your degree. 99% of graduates who use us want to pursue a career related to their degree. If you are a zoology graduate and want to study law it would be diffcult for us to help. However, in many cases recruiters will want a graduate from any discipline and look at other skills. Typically this tends to be for management training or sales roles where the type of person is more key than a degree qualification.

Once registered we use advanced technology that will identify and email you relevant graduate positions so this does depend on your degree subject. We cannot guarantee how often you will be emailed jobs but we can guarantee they are jobs that you are qualified to apply for.

Answer # 25

As you haven't actually got a counter offer I would advise treading carefully. If you want to negotiate remember that companies may find it difficult if they have set pay scales. For instance they may have offered previous graduates one set salary and it would be difficult to justify an increase for you. The other graduates may have a case for the same increase!

Do they already know you are waiting to hear from another firm? This may look like you are not serious about the offer although you have made it clear company A are your preference to me. By all means explain your living expenses, debt or relocation costs and see if they can be flexible. Keep your options open and explore other benefits they could offer such as Private Health, etc.

Remember your first job is very important at the start of your career so think less about the financial rewards but more about how this will help your career advancement.

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Answer #26

On many application forms you will have no choice. Normally your date of birth is included on your CV, although you can leave it out. Of course anyone really interested will work out your age from your compulsory schooling dates. You could minimise its impact by leaving it to the end.

Answer #27

Employers may not be aware of all qualifications. Compare any that are unusual to A-Levels, GCSEs or O-Levels. If they are relevant, include an explanatory summary. You don't need to list every qualification taken - summarise or omit irrelevant ones but make sure you don't leave large gaps in your experience.

Answer #28

You don't have to be paid to gain valuable skills. Think about what you have learnt by bringing up a family, doing a degree, buying a house or working as a volunteer. Make sure you sell the skills this experience has developed.

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Answer #29

Emphasise the skills and knowledge you have gained from the experience rather than the job title and duties.

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Answer #30

Use your covering letter, the additional information section on your application form or include a career objective on your CV to offer a rationale for why you want to change career. Try to match the skills and activities from your previous work experience to the position you've applied for. A skills-based CV is an effective way of dealing with this.