What are THEY saying about YOU? A round-up of hot topics and gossip from the graduate job market.

Welcome to the first WATSAY (now there’s an uncannily apposite acronym *ahem*) of 2018. For newbies and those not paying attention, this is where we take a look at key issues being discussed by graduate recruiters, professional internet talkers and take an occasional pop at those people who talk about ‘students’ and ‘graduates’ like they’re two amorphous blobs who think/act/react in exactly the same way, bless ’em.

All clear? Good-o. Now onward…

Chapter one – The useful stuff

Glassdoor announces top UK places to work in 2018…as voted for by graduate employees. Find out more at http://bit.ly/2EDeAL4

Survey reveals UK’s top undergraduate employers – according to your good selves (or a sizeable sample thereof). Finance dominates the top 5 and last year’s darlings Microsoft plummet to 22nd – you’re a fickle bunch, aintcha?  http://bit.ly/2Cv5xpy

What do graduates do? …is the summary findings of the national Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey, as compiled from the responses of last year’s 316,690 UK domiciled first degree graduates. Hard copies of the summary report are available to browse at Student Centres on each campus, or you can find the online version at http://bit.ly/2sCvXWJ

Graduate Market Trends …is a quarterly publication from the good peeps who bring you What do Graduates do?, for those who want to a bit more digging. Reference copies at the Moulsecoomb campus Career Zone, G5, Cockcroft.

Chapter two – The bad news

Changing Careers magazine (Nov 2016, but who’s counting?) has an interesting article on coping with employer rejections…not to start on a down note but it pays to be realistic. Check out pages 24 – 26 at http://bit.ly/2kA61qT

Average graduate base salary grows less than 1% in last year. In terms of global standing, and despite the slight rise, the UK has dropped two places to become the 7^th highest paid nation for university graduates with an average salary of £26,268. http://bit.ly/2C8cm4L

Chapter three – the gossip

Unpaid internships damage graduate pay prospects. A study by Essex University has found that those choosing NOT to undertake an unpaid internship and go straight into employment after graduation are more likely to earn more in the long term. Especially if they’re called Kevin and wear blue underpants on a Tuesday when it’s raining. We may have made the last bit up. http://bit.ly/2GrCaXA

Female graduates undervalue their worth as they enter the job market. Did you know there was a lead floor to go with the ‘glass ceiling’? Or are you like me wondering who gets paid to come up with buzzwords and how do they sleep nights? Whatever and whichever, read on… http://bit.ly/2uAMZoj

Children’s career aspirations suffer from parents’ lack of confidence. Despite the fact that parents are the No.1 influence on their children’s career choices (sez who? – Ed.) , they feel that the ever-changing world of work and their lack of understanding of it mean that more than a third are reluctant to discuss career options or give advice. http://bit.ly/2ohUkDJ

Graduates are happy to renege on job offers You heartbreakers! More than half of internships (53%) result in job offers. Yet,  72% of the people who received an offer from internship declined it.  What on earth is going on? http://bit.ly/2BCNPDM

Three quarters of 2017 graduates believe Brexit means fewer jobs. In other news, three quarters of 2017 graduates believe water makes them wet. Ahem. Read on… http://bit.ly/2CxacqR