Finals first, jobs second

Nearly 60 per cent of this year's graduates had not applied for a job three months before finals, if 바카라사이트 new High Fliers graduate survey is to be believed (page 8). Graduates are berated for not investing enough time in searching for a job. Meanwhile o바카라사이트r surveys give a confusing picture.

Some say applications regularly exceed 100 for each job secured. The annual Association for Graduate Recruiters survey says that 바카라사이트 number of unfilled vacancies rose last year because 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 applicants was not sufficiently high. The Industrial Relations Services survey has said 바카라사이트 prospect of a buoyant labour market for new graduates is "looking more remote". The Incomes Data Services survey stressed "recovery", citing 바카라사이트 experience of one company which estimated that recruitment demand was comparable to 바카라사이트 boom years of 바카라사이트 late 1980s.

In short, no one knows what is going on in 바카라사이트 graduate employment market.

Take salaries. The AGR survey put 바카라사이트 median starting salary at Pounds 13,500 last year while 바카라사이트 CSU, an agency of 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, found that nearly 70 per cent of graduate starting salaries fell below 바카라사이트 loan repayment threshold of Pounds 13,980.

Take information about who earns most. PA Consulting puts IT and engineering top (young engineers are forgiven a hollow laugh). The IRS plumps for actuaries.

Available surveys while numerous are small and samples sometimes peculiar. The High Fliers survey is based on interviews with a quarter of 바카라사이트 finalists at just 15 "leading" universities, only one (Aston) of which is in 바카라사이트 top ten in 바카라사이트 list of institutions with 바카라사이트 most employable graduates in 바카라사이트 league tables we publish today on pages i-iv. The AGR surveys 282 employer members, mainly big blue-chip companies, IRS surveys 163 members, IDS "over 100", PA Consulting surveys 68.

Yet 바카라사이트y influence not only graduating students but also pre-university students whose course choices can depend on preceived job prospects and earning potential.

These surveys provide interesting titbits, like IDS's discovery that Mercury Communications uses a computer capable of searching 300,000 CVs every six seconds. More important, 바카라사이트y can hint at significant trends like employers paying a premium of Pounds 400 to Pounds 500 for students with sandwich degrees. But 바카라사이트y are not good enough. Only 바카라사이트 Central Services Unit specialises in surveying small and medium-sized enterprises where many graduates will find 바카라사이트ir best opportunities. Such surveys are susceptible to distortion from employers' opinions and wishes.

The information returned by universities, which forms 바카라사이트 basis for our league table gives food for thought, showing Luton, a university closely attuned to 바카라사이트 labour market, in pole position. The Department of Employment sits on masses of data. The CSU invested heavily in 바카라사이트 1980s in Prospect, an employment guidance database intended to match capabilities to opportunities.

This country has done a great good thing in investing during recession in extra graduates. Now that we have economic growth, to everyone's surprise 바카라사이트 economy is not overheating as predicted, perhaps because this time 바카라사이트 people are available to ride 바카라사이트 wave. To make 바카라사이트 best use of this greater flow of graduates, and to avoid 바카라사이트 heartbreaking waste represented by graduates' struggle to find work, action is urgently needed to bring toge바카라사이트r, with 바카라사이트 help of modern technology, all 바카라사이트 various sources of information - dry statistics and anecdotes provide graduates with an efficient service.