In October 2015, I delivered an employability lecture to two hundred first year students from the Business School at a Russell Group university. The observations of this group of spontaneous yet raw talent were fascinating. Some demonstrated genius and had identified their employer of choice and a strategy to achieve their goals. Others meanwhile, were quite apathetic, holding an attitude that entering the workplace was three years away and the degree will automatically lead to and guarantee a successful career.
It’s time for those students to ‘wake up and smell the coffee’. The harsh reality of 2016 is the landscape of the early careers market and you will note I have used the words ‘early careers’ rather than ‘graduate careers’, is changing rapidly. Long gone are the days where the degree is secured and the search for a graduate job begins. Employers are becoming increasing proactive and are taking the War for Talent seriously by engaging with pupils as early as Year 10. Graduates who leave career planning until after study are at risk of being out fought and out thought.
I recall one of my teachers repeatedly telling me that ‘proper planning prevents poor performance’. It became known as the ‘5Ps’ and the same can be said for career planning.
University careers services are evolving. They are becoming more creative and their titles are developing. Yesterday’s ‘Careers Advice Service’ is today’s ‘Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service’. They are undergoing a 21st Century makeover and rightly so, as their students demand it.
Employers too have many more options to consider. Moving apprenticeships to one side for a moment, they still have Summer Internships, Year in Industry Placements, Insight Weeks, Insight Days and Discovery Events opportunities amongst many other programmes to attract undergraduate talent.
Ignore these developments at your peril. So what should a model student be doing?
Ideally, applications for a First Year Summer Internship should be made before stepping foot on campus. For many, this will be a bold and mysterious move. There is however, an advantage to spending the summer at the end of your first year with an employer. Perform well and an invitation to return as a Penultimate Intern will be made. Repeat this the following year and you are likely to commence your Final Year at University with an offer of employment. Pressure relieved, you can invest your time wisely by focusing on study to secure the best degree classification possible – safe in the knowledge you have a job to start upon graduation.
I have worked with many students who have challenged the value of a Year in Industry Placement. It merely prolongs our time at University is the cry. Fear not, a Year in Industry is an opportunity not to be missed. Imagine the time as a prolonged Summer Internship. More time in industry will expose you to many scenarios in the workplace. The benefits are the development of a more considered thought process, experience of dealing with a variety of situations and a stronger work ethic. You are likely to return for your final year of study with maturity, enthusiasm and the ability to critically analyse which are generally required during final year and beyond. What’s more, if you have impressed the employer, you are likely to return with an offer of employment upon graduation. What are you waiting for?
The same process occurs with Insight Weeks/Days and equivalent programmes. They are vehicles for employers to spot talent. The most prudent employers will not hesitate to offer schemes if you impress. Job Done? Not quite, here’s the complex element of this strategy.
Imagine yourself having successfully completed a First Year Summer Internship? You return to University armed with an offer to return to the same company as a Penultimate Intern.
Ask yourself:
- Do I want to return?
- Did I enjoy the culture?
- Can I see myself working full time for the company?
- Do I like the sector?
- What else is out there?
Safe in the knowledge you have an offer, you have the freedom to explore the market and can apply for other Penultimate Internship programmes. Using the same principles as the year before, review your career objectives and your likes/dislikes. A lot can happen in a year at University and your areas of interest and focus may have changed.
If all else fails you can return to Company One. However, with experience of a First Year Internship under your belt and knowledge of how employers recruit, you are likely to be successful when applying for other programmes.
Then you have to make a decision! It’s entirely a matter for you based on your experiences. Base your decision on your preferences identified earlier and ask yourself – ‘what do I want to be doing in five year’s time?’
Employers are looking for differentiation between candidates. All graduates have a degree so what else can you offer? If you are fortunate enough to secure an internship or a year in industry placement, you will stand out from the crowd. If you create an impact and impress the employer, they will not let you go and you will receive an offer of employment.
Who would have thought you could apply for your graduate job before stepping foot on campus? Many students adopt this approach and it provides a good foundation on which to build a successful career. Plan properly and you will prevent poor performance. Invest in yourself.
Contributed by Simon Pollard, Commercial Director
www.smart-resourcing-solutions.com
