A Guide For UK Graduates

Following the global economic slump of 2009, the road has become increasingly rocky for job hunters and graduates alike as the scope of employment opportunities available continues to recede. With the number of vacancies dropping and as many as 10% of graduates unable to find work in their first year outside of university, what is the best course of action for the newly qualified looking for work?

The first option, like it or not, is to begin looking further afield. As the UK jobs market begins to contract, graduates may find that they have more luck overseas, especially in countries who are experiencing unprecedented surges in growth. The job markets in Asia are much better than those in the UK and Europe. Furthermore, individuals with English as a first or second language will find themselves to be valuable assets to flourishing Asian businesses looking to expand their operations West.

Secondly, there is always the possibility of going back into education or even opting for a 'year in industry'. For example, graduates with a college or honours degree, may be interested in going on to study a masters which is a great way to become further qualified whilst waiting for the jobs market to improve. The 'year in industry' aspect of some courses also allows students to 'study on the job' which not only drops you straight into the thick of the action – with your university helping you to source jobs and placements – but also allows you to gain a qualification and work experience at the same time; something many of today's graduates are sadly lacking.

Finally, if working abroad or going back into education isn't an option, the best option for graduates is to put in some research time and assess the best sectors, both in relation to the number of vacancies and relevance to their qualifications. Despite the public sector facing the threat of pay freezes and ongoing cut backs, there are still some promises opportunities, especially within the NHS and other public services such as dentistry and physiotherapy. The rise and rise of digital shouldn't be ignored wither and for graduates from creative industries and marketing, working for a UK SEO company, design studio or any aspect of web within a private company should provide a starting point for your research.