| People applying for new media jobs will have the edge | | | | current economic climate. |
| over other candidates with a good university degree. | | | | New media jobs companies are often looking for |
| Research by the Association of Graduate Recruiters | | | | candidates with strong interpersonal skills such as a |
| (AGR) revealed that 78 per cent of employers now | | | | wealth of experience on the telephone and the ability |
| insist on a minimum 2.1 degree as an increasing number | | | | to negotiate face to face. |
| of university leavers compete for a diminishing pool of | | | | Candidates should ensure that these skills are |
| jobs. | | | | highlighted on their CV before they submit their |
| This is an increase of 11 per cent on the previous | | | | application to an employer as this will improve their |
| year's figures as employers have had to face growing | | | | chances of securing employment in an increasingly |
| levels of graduate unemployment while uncertainty | | | | competitive job market. |
| concerning the state of the national economy | | | | It is also vital that job candidates have the correct |
| continues. | | | | spelling and punctuation on their CV as sloppy errors |
| Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR, said that | | | | can lead to an application being put straight into the |
| employers' earlier predictions for recruitment in 2010 | | | | rubbish bin. |
| have turned out to be somewhat premature in their | | | | Dallas Willcox, a business manager, said: "In many |
| optimism as Britain's job market is still feeling the | | | | years employment as a manager, the biggest reason |
| effects of the recession. | | | | for applicants failing to obtain interviews was the poor |
| She added: "Today's findings suggest that the | | | | quality of their English within their application forms or |
| recovery is going to be slower than previously | | | | CVs. |
| thought." | | | | "First impressions are so important when applying for |
| Ms Gilleard has advised employers not to ignore job | | | | employment. The job application or CV, sometimes |
| applicants with weaker degrees and those who have | | | | with an accompanying letter, is usually all that a |
| not been to university as this will narrow the field of | | | | prospective employer has on which to form his or her |
| potentially suitable candidates. | | | | first impressions." |
| "While this approach does aid the sifting process it can | | | | The average graduate can expect to earn an |
| rule out promising candidates with the right work skills | | | | average salary of £25,000, according to the AGR, |
| unnecessarily," she said. | | | | while a number of the latest new media jobs are |
| Job seekers are being told not to despair as there are | | | | offering salaries in excess of £30,000. |
| still employment opportunities available despite the | | | | |