The world has really shifted over the last few years - post pandemic. But actually also since Tuition fees came into being and going to university became a very real cost. One of the main factors that I've noticed a shift in is the number of candidates with work experience and specifically taking a year for a work placement.
Pre-Covid, a year of work experience gained either agency side or in-house with some marketing related activity would put you at the very front of the graduate hiring pool. Working in the real world, you've proved that you do really want to follow this career path and future employers will view you as less of a 'risk' and someone to invest in. A placement year also gives you a chance to apply the knowledge you are learning during your degree (assuming it's a marketing or business related one) and a chance to earn some money before heading back to University for your final year.
However, since Covid, it feels like the number of undergraduates opting for a year's placement has dropped off a cliff. I'm not sure if less universities are offering these 'sandwich courses' to the same degree or whether it is the choice of the undergraduate to complete a degree as quickly as possible and to get into the world of employment only when fully graduated. I should do some research into this - it's mostly anecdotal evidence rather than scientific and quantifiable!
To understand the importance of work experience, it's important to see it from the perspective of an employer. The bottom line, is that any work experience will add value to your CV. Particularly if it is in a 'commercial' field. However, one of my most memorable junior placements was a candidate who had a Marketing Degree but who had worked in Tesco from the age of 16 and continued right through university to fund their studies. Working on the checkout, stacking shelves etc - you might wonder how a client would value that but it is the sheer fact that this individual worked hard. They put the hours in. They learned how to communicate with different people, they recognised the connection between hard work and being paid (reward). The candidate had no specific marketing experience but several clients loved this candidate and they are now progressing swiftly to Senior Account Manager in a well known creative agency.
I understand how the pandemic messed with our heads. I have a niece who missed her GCSEs and now is in her third year of university. In her 'cohort', very few people have work experience - of any sort. In my mind, I equate it back to the age of 16 when I first started working in local cafes and hotels, everything from chambermaiding to waitressing and bar work. This option wasn't really available to 16 year olds during the pandemic and I think the result of that is that they missed the boat. Parents understood that they'd need to continue to fund education anyway and so working on academic projects became more of a priority.
I really hope that things do return to normality. I live in a small Yorkshire town and I do regularly see 'Saturday' staff in the local shops. This first foray into the world of work is essential to instil an understanding of finance and spending (and saving) to young people. Academic results are important but it has to be accompanied by some experience in the workforce - somewhere!
Another impact of the Pandemic was the number of candidates opting to take a Masters degree post graduation, due to the lack of jobs available to them. More debt. Yes, more knowledge but there are times when the only way to learn is on the job. Unless you work in quite a specific industry, more qualifications don't automatically mean more job opportunities.
Another gripe of mine is that schools are still woefully behind when it comes to career guidance. I think in my day, we had to do two weeks of work experience. I'm not sure anyone takes this seriously. I did a week in a pharmacy which totally put me off doing a pharmacy degree (so was very useful) but also made me quickly realise how hard the world of retail is. A week isn't a long time but it is enough of a taster to see different industries and careers options. My second week was in a hospital testing laboratory and that too put me off that career path but I met a lot of very different people from different backgrounds. Just to have an idea of what you do or don't want to do in life is a real bonus. It was never written in the stars that I'd end up as a recruiter but in fact, it is an industry that allows me to play to all my strengths and where my weaknesses can go un-detected!
This week I was reading about Graduate Apprenticeships. These are unsurprisingly growing very popular. Sixth formers are recruited, generally by bigger businesses who have an apprentice scheme with a degree as part of the offer. Typically the degree will take longer to complete but you will be learning on the job and most importantly being paid whilst the employer pays all the fees. That to me feels like win win. It's much more prevalent in sectors like engineering and technical sectors but they do exist in the world of marketing too. Schools have a responsibility to make young people aware of all the options that are open to them. For smaller businesses, there are government grants available to pay the tuition fees so the system isn't available only in large corporates.
Imagine being an employer looking to make a junior graduate hire. Your CV might well have strong A levels, a 2.1 degree and even a Gold Duke of Edinburgh's award. There's not a lot to go on is there? Trying to persuade a small creative agency owner that your 2.1 in History is valuable to them and makes you a great hire is difficult. If you want an employer to invest in you, they like to see evidence that means their investment will be rewarded.
Finally, I understand that it's chicken and egg. How to get work experience. Think hard about any contacts that you may have, approach businesses directly. Most of my clients do pay their work experience people and most agencies are happy to have someone in the office for a week or so and to soak up how things work. Being proactive shows initiative and again this is something that employers really want. But the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter if it's Tesco, Starbucks or McCanns - having something on your CV which demonstrates you can work is essential.
I don't often have entry level roles but I am always happy to chat to juniors and to offer advice and suggest possible companies to approach!
Written by Fiona Christian. 10/12/24. 07976 125963.