The Impact of COVID-19 on student and graduate opportunities
As a student or graduate, you will no doubt be considering the impact the global pandemic is having upon graduate opportunities and placements. Therefore, to keep you informed, we have created this page which will feature regular updates on the student and graduate recruitment market during these unprecedented times, as well as advice on what steps you can take.
Please keep checking back; this page will be updated regularly with the latest information available to us.
Despite the constantly evolving situation currently unfolding at the beginning of the year, we wanted to take the time to update you all on the effects of the current and previous lockdowns on the graduate job market. Unfortunately, there remains a dip in the amount of vacancies currently being advertised in comparison to last year. However, the job market still appears to be making a tentative recovery with job search engine Adzuna reporting a 4% increase in listings on the week ending 29th January 2021. Whilst this is still only at 78% of the levels from 2020 the fact that postings continue to rise despite the current lockdown and the UK leaving the European Union provides a glimmer of hope in the graduate market’s recovery. Additionally, the fast roll-out of the vaccine across the country potentially opens the prospect of more face to face activities and hopefully an additional rise in vacancies. Regarding specific job roles and recruitment there is not much new information regarding the current lockdown, however data from previous lockdowns has recently been made available. Surveys conducted by the Chambers of Commerce and Totaljobs found a 4% increase in firms attempting to recruit in the last quarter of 2020 and, looking ahead, 19% of firms expect an increase in size and recruitment. Data regarding the furlough scheme has also been made available through the ONS and reports from the House of Commons. In the Arts sector, one that saw a rather disheartening decline, we are now aware of the fact that 56% of the workface was placed on furlough. This extra support given to existing employees makes it much more likely that the Arts may be able to bounce back. Additionally, for finalists and graduates considering work in the public sector employers have reported a record number of entry-level vacancies for university leavers. Whilst the graduate market, much like the overall market, has taken a hit due to events of the past year, there remains promise in the markets ability to evolve to survive the challenges it has faced. Work experience and placement numbers continue to be lower than the past year with the ISE suggesting that these numbers will continue to decrease but at a slower rate. As many of you may be aware the Careers and Employability Team have launched several programmes to assist our final year students in response to this. The Graduate Skills Builder and Workday Schemes are currently recruiting for their next waves which will give our students an extra boost of work experience with a local company. Additionally, as part of the Finalist Career Launch there is a range of activities available for you to participate in. 43% of businesses have reported that psychometric tests are being used as first-stages in the application process. In response to this we encourage our students to access the many resources available to them. The practice psychometric tests available here and on blackboard will prove invaluable for our students looking to prepare for their future job applications. We also have a series of Webinars from a range of speakers covering a wealth of information on the current job climate with job search tips. We believe that despite the sometimes bleak circumstances there still remains a wealth of opportunities for graduates and thus encourage our students to maximise their potential by accessing our support. To support final year students, we have created the Finalist Career Launch taking place this Semester to boost employability skills in upcoming graduates. Click the button below to find out more information about the Finalist Career Launch. As the bespoke Careers Service for the University of Lincoln, we promote student and graduate opportunities via our CareerLinc platform. The number of job adverts advertised throughout January 2021 was slightly higher to the number of roles advertised throughout January 2020. For January 2021 the highest proportion of vacancies were Graduate opportunities, schemes or internships, with 222 live adverts. There were 47 placement roles advertised, which shows that companies are still also advertising these opportunities for student placements. Graduate schemes advertised include Accenture, Deutsche Bank, Premier Foods, Thames Water, Aviva and PwC. Larger organisations continue to represent the highest number of opportunities listed. The service actively work with local and national employers to continually source student and graduate opportunities.February Update
Graduate Job Market and Placements
Our Own CareerLinc Vacancy Analysis
The University of Lincoln partners with companies to offer graduate internships. These can be sourced by you directly and if you want to work for a particular company, virtually or remotely at this time, you may be eligible for a funded internship. For further details, visit the Internships advice section of our website. New opportunities to meet and engage with businesses through virtual Careers fairs, online events and virtual internships could provide opportunities to engage with companies in a different way. To find virtual events, visit our Events Calendar. The Careers Service is continuing to source and advertise part time roles, placement opportunities and graduate positions, all advertised on CareerLinc. Therefore keep checking for live job adverts, update your contact details and set up email job alerts. For those employers who are continuing with recruitment many are changing their recruitment methods online. These include application screening, telephone interviews, online assessment centres. The Careers team can support with all aspects of application via our remote services. Consider continuing to build your skills throughout this time with our top tips on how to Boost Your Employability from Home. We know that the current climate may be causing you some concerns with regards to your career, and it may be that you need to review your plans – you can still gain support via our services, all of which are available remotely, via the button below; we are here to help you. What you should do now?