Selling your skills as a graduate

Great - but now the work starts

In the second part of his analysis of graduate job prospects, Shola Adenakan offers some advice on selling your skills to prospective employers.

The graduating class of 2003 was the last to enter university while the economy and the job market was still strong, but it is emerging into the worst recruitment slump in over a decade.

Graduates' morale has never been so low in recent years.

Only 22% expect to secure a full-time graduate job this year, according to a new survey conducted by High Fliers Research.

The survey, based on interviews with over 15,000 finalists at 30 universities across the UK, suggested that more than 85% of students believed there were insufficient graduate jobs.

The reality in the current climate of economy slowdown is that on its own, a degree will not be enough to impress employers.

If you want to persuade them to offer you a job these days, you are going to have to tell them all about your skills.

Commercial awareness

"Essentially, this means are they worldly wise, savvy and business literate?" says Chris Phillips, publishing director of GTI, the educational publisher.

Graduates are expected to have good communication skills Chris Phillips, GTI

"Do they have an appreciation of what makes the business world tick? Whilst they don't need a degree in maths they will need to be comfortable with figures."

Recruiters are seeking graduates who have knowledge about the background of their organisation and their competitors.

"We are looking for graduates who can display knowledge of themselves, the jobs and the organisation," says Patrick O'Neill, spokesman for Royal Mail.

"We want people who are eager to learn how our business works and want to develop leadership and management skills."

Communication skills

"Whether it's face to face or written, graduates are expected to have good communication skills," says Chris Phillips.

"This covers everything from writing a report to the ability to develop a rapport and build relationship with colleagues and clients.

"A willingness to negotiate and be persuasive usually come into this category."

Networking

This career management skill is still hugely important.

Anne-Marie Martin, director at the University of London career service unit, says it is about using your contacts to help you understand the job market and identify opportunities that you can exploit.

"We still reckon most jobs are secured through networking - or 'power smoozing' as some are now calling it," says Debbie Salkeld, an employer liaison officer at Aston University career service.

The Birmingham-based university has the enviable record as UK's number one destination for graduate recruiters.

The Financial Times newspaper's latest survey rates the university as having the best record for graduate recruitment in the UK. Of the 98 universities in the FT ranking, only Aston scores 100 points for employment.

"The majority of Aston students do work experience or a year in industry or abroad as part of their degree. This afford them the opportunity to get to know people in a particular field or industry," Ms Salkeld said.

Organisation skills

High flyers are expected to be able to organise their time, prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.

Employers look for evidence of these skills in all quarters of applicants' life to date: academia, extra-curricular interests and work experience.

"These activities don't have to be related to business to provide evidence," advised Chris Phillips.

"Plenty of skills are transferable. For example, the sports enthusiast or budding thespian can demonstrate they are committed, reliable and able to work in a team to achieve positive results."

And if you still don't land that top job, make the most of what you can get.

"You might begin waiting on tables in a restaurant. Show your mettle and you could work your way into the role of duty manager doing staff rota, cashing up the till, et cetera.

"This shows you're happy to use your initiative and take on responsibility."