TARGETjobs news roundup

Afternoon. The snow we were so excited about last week has mostly melted round here. That’s in spite of government advice that we should all go out and build snowmen. So things aren’t completely awesome, but that’s ok because we’ve got some intriguing graduate jobs news for you.

Kicking things off, we’ve got pieces from the construction and engineering sectors. The construction sector says that it is expecting a massive recruitment drive next year, so we’re taking a look at the facts behind the numbers. Meanwhile, engineering consultancy company AMEC has nearly finished recruiting. Want to know how to get a job there?

• The construction sector is predicting a 77% rise in graduate jobs over the next year. But is it too good to be true? If you’re struggling to believe the figures you can take a look at the reality of the situation (it’s still pretty good).
• Engineering company AMEC is closing applications for its graduate schemes on 5 February. If you’re planning to apply then you should make sure you know what you’re talking about. AMEC's recruiters get annoyed by common misconceptions about the company. Don’t be the one causing exasperation.

There have also been developments in the consulting, legal and tech sectors:

• If you’re looking for a company that takes care of its staff then you should take a serious look at Accenture. That’s because it has just topped Stonewall's 2013 list of gay-friendly employers. Other front-runners included Gentoo, The Co-operative and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.
• If you’re a UK student studying for an undergraduate or masters degree in engineering, computer science, physics or maths, you should consider entering Astrium's presentation competition. You can win £200 and practice your presentation skills at the same time. The deadline for entry is 22 February.
• TARGETjobs Law is running a series of ‘How to get hired’ workshops. If you’re at university in Birmingham, Bristol or Southampton, you can get the inside story on how to get hired by some of the sector’s leading employers. Sign up quick though, places are running out, and it’s not long ‘til they happen.

But if that’s not interesting to you, read on, because there is plenty of news:

• With news of a potential ‘triple dip’ recession on the horizon, you need to make sure you don’t lose out. Make sure you are prepared to survive the bleakness by following our tips.
• The good news is that graduate starting salaries are starting to rise again after staying still for the last three years. While the number of vacancies on offer last year was down, it’s predicted to rise again in 2013. We’ve also got a really useful sector-by-sector guide to which industries recruit the most.
• There will always be jobs on TARGETjobs, so why not check them out for yourself? We’ve got a weekly roundup of all the graduate job deadlines. It’s a big one, and while engineering and IT, retail, law, business and finance are all particularly busy, there is something for everyone. Check out our latest deadlines here.

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, 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.