• What jobs students take today…
• …and how they decide• Changes we anticipate• Some recommendations
This evening we’ll consider
Paid work is not the only destination on graduation from Oxford – further study is
almost equally popular
3Source: DLHE 2011 census of leavers from 2010
Undergraduates
6 months a
fter leaving
Undergraduates
6 months a
fter leaving
…though further study is less popular elsewhere
4Source: DLHE 2009 census of leavers from 2008
6 months a
fter
leaving6 m
onths after
leaving
A minority of Oxford undergraduates work in the City
5Source: DLHE stats 2007; CS analysis
6 months a
fter
leaving6 m
onths after
leaving
And there’s a variety of further study
6Source: DLHE stats 2010 of 2009 leavers; CS analysis
6 months a
fter
leaving6 m
onths after
leaving
For example, humanities graduates follow a wide variety of careers – this example is History
7Source: DLHE survey 2008
• What jobs students take today…
• …and how they decide• Changes we anticipate• Some recommendations
This evening we’ll consider
Friends and family most frequent source of careers advice
10Source: CS annual 2011 survey of 950 students, 2010 survey of 830 students
Around 85% of undergraduate finalists engage with university careers service – a significant rise on last year
Source: CS annual 2011 survey of 950 students, 2010 survey of 830 students
And almost 50% of freshers engaged with Careers this year
Possibly important ProbablyNot important
Employers see work experience as one of the most important hiring factors…
Source: CS survey 2009 of 300 employers
…confirmed by recent leavers who are unemployed: experience was most often the cause of not succeeding at applications
Source: Unemployed Leavers 2010 (Careers Service), 3-11 March 2011
About the same Better Much better
Work experience helps students in their weakest area
Source: CS survey 2009 of 300 employers
15
ExtremelyVerySlightlyNot at all
…and has become the most important careers activity for 1st year undergraduates
Source: CS annual 2011 survey of 950 students, 2010 survey of 830 students
How important are the following?
• What jobs students take today…
• …and how they decide• Changes we anticipate• Some recommendations
This evening we’ll consider
• Implying employment is most important outcome
• Agencies are trying to provide more transparency for decision makers– New Key Information Statements (KIS)– The critical salary data are useless
Recent fee changes emphasise HE’s employment training role
• Frequent ministerial speeches• Media fanning the flames• HE sector naturally conservative /
resistant• Scary statistics bandied about
We observe a more nervous and unsettled environment…
• Timing and level of engagement• Work experience• Service and support from the HEI
– “I’m paying £3K / £9K / £16K a year”
• Results of access initiatives
…and predict more demand from anxious students…
• More sensitive to peer pressure & family expectations
• Just as much prevarication• Less further study – more paid work• Focus on higher-paying jobs• Demand for “value for money”
…maybe leading to more polarised behaviour
• What jobs students take today…
• …and how they decide• Changes we anticipate• Some recommendations
This evening we’ll consider
• Resist peer and family pressure• Don’t be driven by the money / fees:
your career is a long game• Don’t believe the media• There are many local effects
Advice to students: Steer your own course
• Transferable skills will always be key• Gain extra-curricular experiences• Network to find work experience
Advice to students: Start building the CV soon (even at school)
• 1st year– Don’t worry about it
• 2nd year– Start thinking about it
• 3rd (final) year– Get on with it!
Advice to students: Overall programme
• Take responsibility• Achieve things• Experienced the world of work• Have any necessary technical /
transferable skills• Are positive to have around
Fundamentals haven’t changed; employers will recruit students who: