TARGETjobs news roundup

Hello, good afternoon and welcome to the TARGETjobs news roundup. If you’re looking for a graduate job, this is the place to do your research. Unfortunately TJ HQ has suffered because of the recent flooding, but like the troopers we are we’ve simply relocated and are maintaining normal service. On with the news I say!

Those who are still in uni should be very interested in this week’s Undergraduate of the Year news. There have been some pretty spectacular stories that came from last year’s award, and plenty of winners who didn’t think they had a chance. Don’t forget that there is still time to apply to be the undergraduate of the year 2013. The closing date for entries is January 31.

• Top of the list is our look at what last year’s twelve undergraduates of the year are now up to. Some have capitalised on their victory and kick-started their graduate careers, while others have learned more about themselves and what they want.
• If you want what they’ve got, then learn a few of their tricks. Some of them only got involved at the last minute and still walked away with the trophy. What have you got to lose?
• Take Shabbir Merali for example. He won the Accountancy & Economics Undergraduate of the Year award. But even if he hadn’t, he would still have gained from the experience. Many of the nominees said that the awards gave them good experience of applying for graduate schemes, and that’s really valuable.

Of course while you’re investigating the awards you can also cast an eye over developments in the world of work:

• The Leveson Report was published this week, and while we’re still sorting through the debris, one thing’s for sure, the landscape for journalists has changed. Graduate journalists will need a whole new set of skills, can you afford to miss out?
• And if you thought finance wasn’t rock and roll enough for you, you should see what former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan is up to. When he was recovering from a bust pancreas in 1994 he decided to sort out the band’s finances, but couldn’t make head or tail of them, so he went away and learned his stuff.
• If you want to apply for a graduate job with property employer Lambert Smith Hampton (and the deadline is today) then you’d better know what you’re doing. We’ve got some useful last minute pointers which could set you straight.
• At the end of last week we ran our “IT’s not for the boys” event. We still think the gender balance is a bit skewed in the world of computers and technology, so we’re giving you some pointers on how to survive as a woman in the world of IT.
• Construction consultancy EC Harris is on a rise. The company is recruiting 50 graduates into its quantity surveying (aka cost consultancy) programmes. Do you want to take advantage of their good fortune?

And then of course there’s the general news:

• First up there’s the news that the majority of finalists are now signed up to TARGETjobs. Around 65% of final year students, and nearly 50% of all students now receive emails from us. So we’re giving ourselves a well-deserved pat on the back.
• Don’t forget that it's deadlines season right now too. This is particularly true if you’re looking for jobs in IT and technology, or retail. Don’t forget that there are more than just the obvious jobs on offer as well. Every business needs support staff. Check out our latest deadlines here.

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

TARGETjobs offers the largest choice of graduate jobs, placements and internships. 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.

Helpful tips to win the Undergraduate of the year awards

Helpful tips from 2012's Accountancy & Economics Undergraduate of the year winner, Shabbir Merali

I found the TARGETjobs Undergraduate of the Year competition to be an amazing experience last year. The whole process was great and I learnt so much and picked up many skills through the journey to winning.

I thought I’d use this opportunity to share a few tips with those applying this year.

1) Preparation is key: Don’t try to wait until the deadline before applying and completing the various tests and assessments. This is especially the case when you’ve got lengthy written questions to answer. Try and give yourself plenty of time before the deadline to conduct some research, in order to write a well-thought out answer, and if you have time, ask your friends and family to check through your answers.

2) Practice the tests: During the process, you will asked to complete various psychometric tests in order to test your verbal, numerical and logical abilities. Before you take these tests, it’s really helpful to have some practice. There are plenty of websites which offer you the opportunity to practice similar style questions, which will help you to get used to the format of the questions and also enable you to get better at answering the questions faster. One of the biggest challenges with the tests is the time limit, so make sure you’re aware of how long’s left!

3) Be confident: Hopefully through practicing the tests and preparing thoroughly for the written questions you will stand a good chance of getting through to the assessment centre.  If you do get this far, just be confident in your abilities. Your application and test scores must have been outstanding to get this far, so act confidently during the assessment centre and give it your best shot.

4) Learn: The whole process will allow you the opportunity to develop your skills and entering the competition can be a great addition to your CV. Take on board any feedback that you receive and take full advantage of this opportunity.

Best of Luck!!

TARGETjobs news roundup

Well hello there. How are you? You’re looking very stylish, and I love that thing you’ve done with your hair. You have come to the right place. To celebrate your arrival we’ve put together a little something. Welcome to the TARGETjobs news roundup.

If you’re interested in accountancy and finance management then this is an important week for you. First up there’s the lowdown on the merger between BDO and PKF, then there’s an insight from Ernst & Young about flexible working and some advice on what it takes to become an actuary:

• The merger of BDO and PKF is due to happen sometime in early 2013. With all of the ‘Big 4’ companies formed by similar mergers, this is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
• In news that will affect everyone, Nick Clegg announced this week that everyone will have the right to request flexible working hours. This is regularly regarded as a high priority by graduate recruits. Now Lynn Rattigan, Ernst & Young’s deputy chief operating officer, has spoken up in support of the scheme.
• And if you want to become an actuary you’re going to need to crank up the effort. With more and more people competing for the same jobs, some are taking steps such as completing their Actuarial Profession exams while they’re still in university.

But there have also been developments in banking, consulting, engineering and retail:

• There’s an interesting story about how a last minute Undergraduate of the Year competition entry led to a graduate job for one young woman. You can find out about last year’s Undergraduate of the Year winners on this blog, or enter the awards yourself.
• Then we found out that strategy consulting firm Monitor has filed for bankruptcy protection in the US. This is important commercial knowledge for anyone looking at jobs in the consultancy industry – particular if you’re thinking about applying to work at Deloitte, which is looking to acquire the firm.
• If you want to work in civil engineering then you’ll be interested to hear that Atkins has increased the number of UK graduate hires to 330 from 300 this time last year. Atkins played a big part in the London 2012 Olympics, and while they are over, the company has won a lot of business as a result.
• If you’re a first year on a STEM course (science, technology, engineering or maths) who could use a bit more cash then you might want to check out BP’s undergraduate sponsorship scheme. These £5,000 grants are available to students from a very select set of universities.
• And, as Waitrose’s graduate scheme is staying open until 9 December, we’re giving you three important pointers on how to get hired. We spoke to Becky Wareham, recruitment manager with responsibility for graduate and industrial placements at Waitrose Ltd, and we’ve got some useful hints for you.

There are also some real gems in our general advice:

• First up there’s a bit of an insider’s secret for you: graduates should apply to companies they have never heard of. Small and medium sized employers (SMEs) make up a big majority of all the companies in the marketplace, and you won’t do yourself any favours by ignoring them.
• So why not check out some employers with our usual collection of graduate job vacancies up for grabs. It’s a busy one this week, so if you’re looking to start a career you’ll want to leave yourself plenty of time. This is especially true next Friday, when EVERY VACANCY UNDER THE SUN seems to be closing applications. Check out the latest jobs here.
• And, when you do get that interview, try to avoid talking yourself out of a job offer. Self-deprecation can be charming, but in an interview you want to bring out the big guns, and put your modesty aside.

To get graduate careers news as it happens, check out the TARGETjobs news feed. Alternatively, check out the round-up 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.

TARGETjobs news roundup

‘Sup? You’ve reached the TARGETjobs news roundup. Here we take all the news from the world of graduate jobs and condense it into a package of bite-sized morsels. And it’s a pretty tasty meal we’ve got laid out for you this week.

News from the industries has been dominated by the legal sectors. If you want to be a solicitor then you should definitely check out this week’s news. That’s because we have some solid advice for anyone considering careers with Clyde & Co:

• Many graduate job hunters worry that they won’t be able to answer interview questions. Would-be Clyde & Co employees don’t want to run afoul of 'why pursue a career in law?' Here’s how to answer the killer question.

But not everyone wants to be a solicitor. I mean, you could go the other way and be a barrister:

•  That said, applications to join the Bar professional training course (BPTC) are on the increase. Unfortunately, there is a bottleneck when it comes to securing a pupillage at the other end.
• At our ‘Women in Investment Management’ event,  top finance CEO Helena Morrissey’s advised aspiring female investment managers to ‘leap first, look later’. One student said ‘the keynote speech was inspirational and has confirmed my desire to pursue a career in investment management,’ which is pretty much how we roll.
• If you’re interested in a career in human resources, you should be up to date with events at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). There have been some interesting developments at its most recent conference.

And there’s plenty of general advice to sink your teeth into as well:

• We’ve also put together the 3 secrets of success for job hunting after you graduate. If you’ve left university and you’re still looking for a job, these will really set you on the right path.
• And then there are all the jobs with vacancies closing soon. It could be particularly interesting to you if you want a job in the built environment sector. That said, retail, consumer goods, and even recruitment companies are also recruiting. Check out the latest jobs here.

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

TARGETjobs offers the largest choice of graduate jobs, placements and internships. 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.