Looking for Graduate Work in The Uk - What employers look for - Part 2/4

Welcome to section 2 of Looking for graduate work in the UK, in this section we will explore what employers look for in graduates. So what do employers want to know from you? You could say that employers in the UK are very demanding! They look for a variety of attributes in graduate recruits. The first thing they tend to want to know is can you do the job? This is looking at whether you have the skills to carry out the job. This could be a specific skill, so for example being able to programme computers or speak French, or it could be focussed on particular transferable skills like research or communication. It could be that they are looking for a specific degree discipline – so for example a mechanical engineer. However it is important to keep in mind that in the UK employers tend not to focus on your degree discipline, so for example you do not necessarily need an accountancy degree to be an accountant or a marketing qualification to work in marketing. The next thing is really crucial in the graduate recruitment market and it is motivation. The obvious question you will be asked at interview is “why do you want this job” so you have to be able to give a convincing answer. Some international students can become focussed on just being able to remain in the UK and apply for any job – this is generally a mistake as you will really struggle to articulate your motivation for a job – you don’t want your only reason for applying to be that you want to stay in the UK! To be successful you must be able to articulate your motivation for the job, the employer and the sector that it is in. If you are struggling to do this then make an appointment to come to speak to someone at the Careers Service – we can help you think about what you want to do. The next point is harder for you to control – partly this is just down to whether your personality fits into the organisation. There are some things you can to do to demonstrate that you would be a good fit for a particular role. These include trying to meet with people who already work there to find out what it is like – many employers come on campus to speak to students which is a great opportunity for this. You can also read about the companies values and mission – this information is usually available on their websites. It can also help to understand the industry you are applying to and to think about whether the style of working involved would suit you. Finally you should think about what you can bring to the organisation. Often graduates only talk about what they hope to get from an employer – in terms of training or experience. However really effective candidates talk about what they can bring too – up to date knowledge on a particular topic or even enthusiasm! How do employers assess these attributes? Employers look for a range of evidence when considering applications. This includes a good degree – often larger recruiters look for an undergraduate grade of 2.1 or above. If you have an undergraduate from outside the UK then you can find out what the UK equivalent grade would be by getting in touch with UK NARIC. If you don’t have a 2.1 don’t despair there are plenty of opportunities still available to you. The application process for graduate jobs in the UK is often lengthy and involved – another reason only to apply for things that you feel really motivated for. Here is a breakdown of some of what you can expect. Not every job will require you to go through everything on this slide. For more help the Careers Service has great resources for you on our website. If English is not your first language then improving your English may be something you need to consider before you start applying for jobs. Most employers in the UK will expect you to have a higher standard of English than the required level to get onto your course at University. Many will expect you to be close to fluent. It is important to work on your English language skills throughout your time at Edinburgh if you plan to work in the UK. There are lots of ways you can do this – anything that exposes you to English speakers will help you improve. You can see some ideas on this slide including EUSA’s Tandem programme for language exchange.