With the BBC reporting a 17% cut in graduate recruitment targets this year, you may be worrying about your prospects at the end of this year. Certainly the reported halving of recruitment in the financial sector is cause for concern. 

This leaves you with a choice – apply to a different sector, or get ready to beat the competition.

Apply to a different sector

The public sector is often considered a safe place to work during a recession - the civil service remains a consistent employer of graduates. And there is always demand for doctors, nurses, teachers and administrators in the health and education sectors.

Not what you had in mind? You might be surprised what else you can find outside of The City. Aldi is offering a starting salary of 40,000 plus car! If you explore Industry and Retail sectors you can still find management and finance roles that will match your skills and interests. Although prospects in these sectors may be looking uncertain considering the recession, not all companies are suffering, Aldi can back up their offer with a 25% growth in sales.

Explore different sectors using summary guides like the TARGETjobs guides and Inside Careers guides, available free at your university careers service, and investigate the opportunities available at various employers’ websites.

Beat the competition

• Sharpen up your CV by getting it checked at your university careers service. You may find a change in layout will make you look more professional, or a different way of describing your previous jobs will bring out your responsibilities and skills. It is always useful to get a different perspective on your work.
• Boost your CV and employability by competing in business challenges.
• Improve your work experience by volunteering – your student union should have a volunteering society that can help you find local opportunities really easily, including short-term, even one-day projects.
• Research the company you are applying to. You must tailor your application approach to each company.
• If you are struggling with interviews and selection centres, you can try a practice interview with a careers adviser, or visit your careers service library for practice tests and advice books.

One book we recently bought that provides a good overview of the whole recruitment process is Get That Job! by Andy Gibb. It starts with the basics, choosing the right career for you, then carries you all the way through finding jobs, applying, interviewing, psychometric tests, assessment centres, 0ffers and feedback, and head-hunters. It is worth a look to help make sure you are competitive at every stage and know exactly what to expect.