WIDENING ACCESS TO THE PROFESSIONS Carl Gilleard Chief Executive Association of Graduate Recruiters

WHAT DO EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR IN GRADUATES? Everything……………… ……… and more!

A GOOD DEGREE

SKILLS

“Experience is not what happens to you; it’s what you do with what happens to you” Aldous Huxley

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Mindset Matters

A GOOD JOB APPLICATION

 graduates from a particular institution  graduates from the same mould  UCAS tariff points What should employers NOT look for?

 80 plus applications chasing each vacancy  The inadequacies of the degree classification system  Too many institutions, too few resources  Candidates not doing themselves justice  Candidates who are not mobile  How to identify potential as well as achievement The challenges for recruiters of graduates

 Monitor each stage of recruitment process to ensure no hidden barriers  Constantly review recruitment practice and performance  Ensure recruiters are properly trained  Clear messages from the top  Buy in from the line  Be willing to try different approaches What can employers do to improve diversity?

 Sign up to the Government’s Business Compact – opening doors  Help schools to raise aspirations  Mentoring  Open opportunities to all  Open up access to internships  Pay interns  Recruit fairly using processes that exclude biodata  Sponsorship/ Bursaries Examples of what employers do

 18 year old entry programme to professional quals and degree (Accountancy)  Widening participation GAP Year in business (IT)  Recruitment site aimed at parents (Construction)  Internship programme taking parental earnings into account (Bank)  Briefing sessions on application/assessment procedures (Public sector) Towards a level playing field

Elephant in the Room

 Risk averse recruitment  Collapse of guidance services  Growth in internships leading to jobs  Growth of school leaver programmes????  Tuition fees???? Will participation levels fall? Who will opt out? Choice of courses and institutions on financial grounds Shorter degrees Working at the expenses of the complete experience Elephants in the room

The key to unlocking potential- Taking Personal responsibility