Leeds helps students capitalise on graduate jobs market
The University has once again been placed in the top ten UK universities most targeted by Britain’s top employers.
The Graduate Market in 2015 – a study
of graduate vacancies and starting salaries at the UK’s one hundred leading
employers – also shows that graduate salaries are expected to rise for the
second year in a row.
Top UK employers are expected
to pay a median of £30,000 for the first time. More than a quarter of leading
graduate programmes are likely to pay their new employees starting salaries of
more than £35,000.
The number of positions
available to graduates is also on the rise for the third year running. The
report, conducted by High Fliers Research in December, found that the UK’s top
employers planned to increase their graduate recruitment this year by creating
8.1% more entry-level positions than last year – the highest number of graduate
opportunities than at any point during the last decade.
Jane Campbell, Head of the
Careers Centre, said: “This news is really promising
for our students and graduates as it offers them increasing opportunities once
they have their degree from Leeds.
“Our position amongst the top
ten universities targeted the most by the UK’s leading employers is a credit to
the calibre of our students and of the work that goes on by staff in the
Careers Centre, colleagues in Student Opportunity, Faculties and across the
University.
“The Careers
Centre helps students from across
the University to find employment, while our business start-up programme Spark gives student
entrepreneurs the tools and support to build their own businesses.”
The report shows that there is
a large number of paid work placements available to students at some of the
UK’s top employers. Placements can give invaluable practical experience that
will help kick start students’ graduate careers, putting them in a favorable
position when it comes to employment.
The report highlights the
importance of completing work experience, with many employers warning that
graduates are not likely to be successful during the recruitment process if
they have no work experience.
Jane Campbell added: “Students
at Leeds have the opportunity to undertake a work placement in the public,
private and voluntary sectors across the UK and overseas. The Careers Centre, along
with faculty placement contacts, can help students secure placements.”