2010…the year of the Graduates?

Martin Smickler, Managing Director of LinkPoint Resources, looks at the state of the jobs market and how 2010 will play out for graduates.

As the recession deepened, the jobs market in the UK as a whole took something of a battering in 2009. The graduate market in particular was the toughest for a decade. Even the best graduates struggled to get the roles they wanted. Many had to think of alternatives: some took stop gap roles, some returned to live with their parents in the face of a bleak market and large student debt.

Another option for graduates was postgraduate study which was seen by many as a good way of sitting out the recession. As a direct result of this move, there is already a large pool of talent anxious to get into the job market in 2010.

The good news is that prospects for graduates in 2010 are already better than experienced in 2009, with many of the countries large graduate employers increasing their planned intakes.

From an employer's point of view, there is now a large talent pool to pick from. Graduates will still find it difficult to land their dream job, so an imperative message which the class of 2010 must take on board is to get immediately active in the market. A delay could find it impossible to get the jobs they want. The jobs market in 2010 isn't going to return to pre-recession heights in an instant. Large employers have already experienced an upsurge in job applications and the majority of vacancies are beginning to be filled.

In addition to this, the prospects for international students have become much more challenging as new government work permit restrictions make it more difficult for international graduates to remain in the UK. In the experienced hire market the key issue for employers is retention. As we emerge from recession there is always a pent up demand to move.

For more information on how LinkPoint Resources can help you on your path to achieving your objectives please visit us at

www.linkpointresources.co.uk or alternatively contact us on 08456 809 297 or info@linkpointresources.co.uk

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