Good news for Graduates?

A fortnight ago, The Journal reported on the severe lack of job opportunities in many sectors for graduates. However, opportunities in sectors such as retail and engineering appear to be increasing despite a global recession.

Walmart-owned chain ASDA have promised to create seven thousand new jobs this year, and they are not the only large supermarket chain to announce a new recruitment drive. Budget supermarket Aldi has also announced that they plan to increase the number of graduates they take on in 2009 by fifty per cent. Similarly, Waitrose, Morrison’s, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s have all said that they too will be recruiting thousands of new staff nationwide.

Though the recession has made the job market increasingly difficult, careers services remain positive about employment. Stephen McLellan, a careers advisor at Napier University said: “Recruiting remains fairly strong in the public sector, some sectors of engineering and the large supermarket chains.”

He added: “If graduates cannot find the ideal job in the current economic climate, we are here to help them decide what alternative options they should consider.”

The promise of employment opportunities spells good news for many unemployed graduates looking for retail positions. ASDA is one of the top one hundred graduate employers according to The Times. The retailer offers several graduate career programmes in which graduates can be trained in various skills.

There is also more good news for students looking to work in some manufacturing industries. Scottish Enterprise, Scotland's main business and investment quango, has launched a campaign to increase the number of new recruits who enter into the apparently thriving engineering and shipbuilding industry. The campaign aims to encourage people with a range of expertise into the engineering industry where they could also receive beneficial training.

Acting director of the Careers Service at the University of Edinburgh, Shelagh Green is similarly positive about graduate employment. She advises students to “be proactive and positive; target applications and prepare well but don't neglect your studies; be flexible, some sectors may be affected more than others; don't believe all media coverage – and use your careers service.”

Ms Green continued: “Employers are still recruiting: we have significant bookings for the summer graduate recruitment fair open to all students in Edinburgh.” The fair will take place in Adam House on Chambers Street on the 29th of May. In addition, the University of Edinburgh will be hosting "riding the recession" workshops this month where students will be able to get more information on the realities of the job market at this difficult time. More information can be found on the university website.

Nick Thow, director of the careers advisory service at Heriot-Watt University also stresses the value of the help careers services offer, free of charge, to students and graduates worried about their future prospects. He notes too that: “The two areas that are increasing their intake this year are the public sector and the armed services.”

The future for students who are looking for work placements in technical sectors may also be brighter. The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)—a programme which arranges internships and work experience placements worldwide for undergraduates and recent graduates of engineering, science and architecture—will be expanding because the Scottish government have decided to increase their funding over the next three years.

Broadcaster BskyB will also be creating one thousand new jobs to cope with a growing demand for its services. Careers services at all universities offer a wide range of opportunities and advice but they advise students who want to succeed academically to regularly visit them rather than leaving this until their last year.