Recruitment expert Gina on what to do to start a career


After years of gloom for job hunters, the recruitment market looks like it is on the up.

But that is no reason for graduates to sit back and relax, according to a Colchester-based business coach and mentor.

Gina Gardiner, who also works with graduates to help them get their top job, says: “The slight easing in competition is great. The career landscape looks brighter, but it is far from perfect.

“Graduating students shouldn’t see this as an opportunity to slack off.

“Rather an opportunity to go out there and grab the career they desperately want in a job market where their hard work is more likely to be rewarded.”

According to research by High Flier, some of the UK’s biggest employers, including Google, British Airways, John Lewis, the police and civil service, plan to recruit a total of 18,264 graduates this year.

In addition employers are said to want to hire 18 per cent more graduates this year compared to last year.

The financial services sector is expected to increase by 42 per cent, according to research.

But while there may be more jobs on offer there are also more candidates in the pool, as graduates from previous years fight for the same jobs.

Statistics show that one in ten graduates it still out of work six months after leaving university and vocational qualifications, such as apprenticeships.

A survey of 500 employers commissioned by the Department of Business said qualified apprentices are four per cent more employable than university graduates on an employability scale.

But Gina explains that by working smarter, graduates have just as much chance of securing the job as apprentices do.

She says: “If you work smarter, prepare well and present yourself at your best, then your energy will shine through and you will get the job you want.

“A degree is like a key, but you have to find the right opportunity to unlock.”

She adds that what was working before is not helping graduates get jobs now.

If a CV does not include a keyword, it may not make the shortlist. CVs with spelling or grammar mistakes could go straight in the bin as recruitment professional sift through mountains of applications.

She said: “It’s also a necessity to ensure a CV and personal statement are both vibrant and alive when they reach an actual person, as bland CVs won’t help graduates to stand out.

“Emphasise transferrable skills – for example being the captain of a sports team can show a candidate has leadership skills.”