GRADUATE EMPLOYERS NOW CONSIDER THOSE WITHOUT DEGREES – SO WHY DID YOU BOTHER WITH UNI?
Jobs previously ear-marked for graduates are now going to school-leavers, according to a new survey. The research – by talent management consultancy SHL – is likely to be viewed as bad news by graduates seeking work this summer.
71% of small businesses (SMEs) say they have started – or expect – to consider school leavers for roles previously reserved for university graduates. SHL’s Vice President, Sean Howard, explained that many recruiters feel that graduates are falling short of recruiters’ expectations:
“We are actually seeing more and more graduate recruiters turn to A-level recruitment schemes …[and] considering candidates’ attributes beyond qualifications. A 2:1 doesn’t guarantee a motivated candidate who will stay with your organisation. A dedicated A Level student who can demonstrate the core competencies and potential you need could be a better option.
“We are not saying that degrees have no value at all, but there is significant research to say that academic qualifications are not very predictive in terms of job success. We recently conducted research with a major global graduate recruiter that concluded that a 2:1 degree isn’t predictive of job performance.”
In other words – and despite what many young people have been led to believe – graduates are wrong to assume that having a degree makes them a more attractive candidate than their rivals without one.
If this is true, it raises the question: If you can get a decent job without a degree, why the hell are young people still being encouraged to spend over £30k on going to university?
SHL told Graduate Fog they welcomed the new findings, calling it ‘encouraging’ for those 18-year-olds who have been deterred from attending university because of high tuition fees.
That may be so. But Graduate Fog thinks the hundreds and thousands of young people who have invested in a university education will have a different view. For them, these findings only means one thing – fewer jobs for graduates.
Despite the rise in tuition fees, there has been no evidence of a decline in the number of people going to university. It therefore follows that by deciding to consider school-leavers for ‘graduate’ positions, companies will be effectively displacing university graduates from jobs once ear-marked for them.
There was some good news, however – 64% of companies said they would be prepared to help graduates with re-paying their student loan in order to attract the best candidates. And there is a chance that loan-payback schemes (already being trialled) could become more popular with the big graduate recruiters, as employers begin to understand that when you’re deep in debt, money talks. As Howard explained:
“We have already seen some larger graduate recruiters — like GSK and KPMG – offering this kind of financial support [to graduates]. It seems clear that in light of the fact that a university education will potentially cost £9k per annum, graduate recruiters have responded to students facing financial difficulties by introducing this kind of talent attraction scheme. It remains to be seen over the next year or two how these kind of schemes will evolve and whether they will become the norm.”
Graduate Fog is concerned that only the big companies will be able to afford to do this (possibly creating a two-tier recruitment system?) But hey, I guess it’s nice to know that at least somebody values your education…
*Are you alarmed to hear graduate roles are going to school-leavers?
Do you think it’s fair? Are employers are undervaluing university degrees? Would you have gone to university if you thought that companies would employ you for the same job, without a degree?
I actually expected that the employers would skip over recent graduates in favour of younger employees. My sister who is a school leaver even commented that they will prefer the naivety of those entering the workforce now. The outlook I had of working has been scarred by my unemployed status and although I have had a few temporary jobs, there is no security. All this has done is prepare those in my year for a life jumping from job to job, taking more flexible work which looks bad on your cv. I still would have studied at university but my degree would have been more practical. That said, none of us could have prepare for the recession. It just seems ridiculous that employers can’t seem to realise that the unemployed are potential consumers. I plan to pay my debts off but I can’t until…well when.
I have been anticipating these findings, but the statistics make it all the more real. I am 17 and geared towards spending my money on quality tutoring; that is personalized and more receptive to my interests, rather than spending thousands on university. Sir Ken Robinson has investigated this same phenomena for years now. He calls it academic inflation, where the value of degrees is just decreasing, now at a greater rate than ever. Once, a degree meant you were guaranteed a job, now the only consolation it offers is a nod of approval from the traditionally minded parents.
-Jessica
@Jessica
Interesting. The ‘nod of approval’ is given not just by parents but by the right people. I wouldn’t mind getting the nod myself! I’m talking about networking.
I have been a graduate for a year with underemployed jobs here and there. I now am considering networking as a viable route (I’ve done just about everything else!) I know there’s jobs out there; it’s just finding something suitable(and therefore more applicable?).
In light of Tanya’s (seemingly) terrifying news, I have found refuge! School leavers can take these jobs; I doubt we’d want them anyway. This news makes me realise I should aim for what I want, and not what others want?
What say you, Fog?
@Michael
Thanks for the reply =)
I agree with you on the networking. I feel like that’s the only option too. For me though, since I’m still in high school, I need networking to find people who can train or tutor me, and then boost my network to get me employed or working with the sort of people I want. I’m opting for a career in improving education and the traditional jobs out there really don’t pertain to my interests. Networking is the only way I can get the opportunity to really apply my passion.
Do your ideas on networking differ? I’m interested to hear any of your suggestions or comments, Michael.
=)
– Jess
I think in the longer term that would be a good thing. It appears to me that a significant fraction of roles labelled ‘graduate’ are in fact no such thing. The employer may want a graduate but it often seems that any skills and knowledge gained during a degree have no relevance to the job whatsoever, especially those jobs which allow for a wide range of degree subjects. Opening them up to school leavers just proves this.
Surely the best thing in those cases is for employers to drop the spurious requirement of having a degree. The smaller number of ‘real’ graduate roles (those that require a skill set that can only be gained during a degree) would then become clearer, and many fewer people would be encouraged to waste money on degrees that have no real value in the job market.
I agree with MPL.
Sadly, there are comparatively few UK jobs which require really good thinking skills and / or advanced knowledge well above technician level. It was wicked to mis-sell university education as it has been sold.
Simply infuriating. No wonder I went freelance – employers, pah, can’t trust any of them to treat a graduate decently. Fine, their loss.
This is nothing new, its just been revealed as the “new” thing. I was an A Level management trainee at one of the large retailers back when I left college – that is completed my A Levels. I went through the same recruitment process, assessments and got the job on a level footing. I think I was one of 2 (no more) of an intake of 40-50. The difference in the role was simply the starting pay – nearly double for a graduate, and second was that of the many college entries I met none made it past a department manager. So promotion wise and for all you finance and economics soon to be graduates – your NPV is much much much higher and that is what your degree gets you. It is nothing about getting into a role or employers preferences for college over graduates.
Having trained and worked worked with graduate trainees I found that the level of hand hold required is sometimes quite high, but then again the level of micro management I saw was also very contrived. My advice to new graduates would be to listen, learn, and do what the boss says not what he/she does.
Similarly for Engineering graduates entry to role into work from HNC and HND programs is much more preferable than an degree qualified engineer – however if you have a degree you will manage those people after gaining a little experience.
Ultimately – dont pay heed – your degree will pay off in the long run, just stick with your job search and dont quit the search for suitable work.