TARGETjobs News Roundup

Good afternoon and welcome to the TARGETjobs graduate jobs news roundup. We’re looking forward to the opening ceremony tonight, but if you want to avoid it all then we have just what you’re looking for. Get a head start on your graduate job hunt while your rivals are still in the blocks with our news and advice.

Leading the news this week is the built environment, with interesting developments in construction and civil engineering.

• First up, Costain was picking up awards left, right and centre at the 2012 Construction News Awards. It won in the Project of the Year Above £50 Million, Rising Star of the Year and Best Use of Technology categories.
• And if you want to find out what a graduate job in construction is really like, the results from the TARGET graduate construction survey are in. There were mixed reactions, with respondents shocked by both the levels of responsibility and toughness of the lifestyle.
• We also launched the brand new @TjobsBuilding Twitter feed:

Welcome to the construction, civils,QS, building surveying and property feed. Look out for jobs, advice and news on all things building.
— TARGETjobs Building (@TjobsBuilding) July 23, 2012

While the built environment has been leading the way, there have been developments in other sectors as well. This is particularly true for anyone looking for careers in law, but banking and retail job-seekers should also take a look:

• From September 2012, aspiring barristers will have to pass an aptitude test before they can join the Bar Practice Training Course (BPTC). The test is designed to weed out unsuitable candidates before they fork out for a career which might not be for them.
• The good news for those who have realised their mistake too late is that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is making it easier to transfer. BPTC or BVC graduates will now be able to take a shortened version of the Law Practice Course.
• You might have heard this week that Lloyds sold of its branches to The Co-op – particularly if you’re interested in a career in finance. If you haven’t, then we’re explaining why you should have, and what you should take from it.
• And for those who want to work in retail there’s also good news: Asda has launched a fast-track retail management scheme for graduates. The first cohort of 15 trainees will start in September, and would be store managers within a year.

And if none of those sectors interest you, we still have a couple of things which might interest you:

• As usual we have the deadline roundup of all the graduate jobs closing next week. In particular it is the final countdown for solicitors’ training contract applications. They have until Tuesday 31 July to get applications in. Check out the latest jobs here.
• And, following on from our interviews advice last week we have a tip on the kind of questions to ask. The right question can really make you stand out in an employer’s eyes, but you have to make sure it is relevant.

To get graduate careers news as it happens, check out the TARGETjobs news feed. Alternatively, check out the roundup this time next week!

TARGETjobs offers the largest choice of graduate jobs, internships and placements. Independent reviews on top graduate employers and career planning tools and expert guidance. Become a TARGETjobs blogger by getting in touch with jackie.balchin2@targetjobs.co.uk.