New research by Raleigh reveals how a gap year expedition can boost graduates’ employability
With graduates now being urged to consider other options to full time employment to avoid the worst of the recession, volunteering overseas is becoming a far more attractive and practical alternative than ever.
It is widely believed that the graduate recruitment market is going to be tougher than ever this year. According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters, on average 48 candidates will compete for every graduate job this Summer, making it more important than ever to stand out from the crowd.
A new study conducted by Raleigh involving leading UK graduate employers such as BT, Cap Gemini, Costain, IBM and UBS reveals that, this year, almost 90% of recruiters will rely on candidates’ non academic achievements when deciding which applicants to put forward for highly-sought after graduate jobs.
“In this job market, evidence of soft skills and the ability to show how you can add value to an organisation are going to be more important than ever,” advised Raleigh’s chief executive Stacey Adams. “This can be really tough for new graduates when they don’t have much previous work experience – although all of the graduate recruiters that we work with tell us that a well constructed gap year is a great way to develop these soft skills.”
Communication skills, teamwork and adaptability were the skills that recruiters felt would be of most value to their company, with initiative and self-confidence also seen as important personal characteristics.
The survey also explored graduate recruiters’ attitudes towards the most constructive way that students can spend their gap year. Top of the list was undertaking relevant work experience or work in the UK – with 80% of graduate recruiters claiming that they would find that the most attractive attribute on a CV. Employers rated a Raleigh expedition as the second most constructive use of an applicant’s time (70%) – and believe that having Raleigh on your CV is even more valuable than UK based volunteering, individual overseas volunteering placements or gaining a new skill or qualification.
“It’s all about looking at ways that graduates can improve their chances in a crowded job market”, advised Adams. “And it’s worth remembering that if you are applying for graduate jobs now and think you are missing out because you lack these key soft skills, all is not lost. Leading employers endorse expedition experience, so why not take time out now to go on an overseas expedition and apply for the next graduate intake, with the benefit of new skills and self belief.”
Raleigh is a youth and education charity that inspires people from all walks of life, nationalities and ages to get out there and rise to the challenges of life on expedition. To find out more about Raleigh expeditions and gap year volunteering projects, visit http://www.raleighinternational.org/our-expeditions/gap-year
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Helen Putnam -
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Yes, usually this will help you get hired on full time at that very place that you were interning at, and if for some odd reason it does not, it will still look great on your resume`; although it is unpaid experience, it is still work experience, which puts you ahead of other graduates who are competing for the same entry level positions.
I had an internship my final semester of undergrad, and I'm still working there part-time now! That experience will help me down the line when I look for other positions too.
Congratulations on this great opportunity!