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.