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.