Finding a job as a graduate isn’t that easy
In today’s competitive labour market, graduates are finding it more difficult to secure employment than in previous years. Anne Richardson from the Department for Employment and Learning’s Careers Service advises that help — and jobs — are out there…
IT has to be acknowledged that many graduates are finding it difficult to obtain employment as it is a very competitive labour market.
Not only are they facing competition from other graduates but they are competing against job-changers and people who have been recently made redundant, many of whom have gained years of valuable experience.
That said, there are still job opportunities across all occupational areas in Northern Ireland.
It is also important to note that more opportunities exist in areas where there are skills shortages and in occupations relating to science, technology, engineering and maths.
It’s necessary to remember that not every degree leads to one particular job.
If you have gained a third level qualification, try to think about how or where else you can use your degree.
There are also programmes funded by the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) to help unemployed graduates into work.
Examples would include the Graduate Acceleration Programme (GAP) which aims to help hundreds of Northern Ireland graduates gain six months of invaluable work experience while obtaining a qualification that will help boost their employability and improve their career.
Another example would be INTRO.
The INTRO graduate programme is an entry-into-management level initiative designed to speed the development of graduate managers, thus helping them become more productive within their organisations.
Northern Ireland firms understand the need for good, well-qualified managers who can make a lasting contribution to increased productivity, and the INTRO programme brings both of these themes together in a 24-week programme.
It provides classroom-based learning, focusing on management skills training and a 20- week industry placement which includes a specific business improvement project.
Participating graduates, who are employed for the duration of the programme, also receive an advanced diploma in management practice validated by the University of Ulster.
For information on both GAP and INTRO, visit www.nidirect.gov.uk. For a careers adviser, details are available on www.nidirect. gov.uk/careers or call 0300 200 7820. Don’t forget, the Careers’ Resource Centre in Ann Street Belfast is open every Saturday from 10am-2pm