ëServices for graduatesí project highlights importance of web based careers advice for graduates

Nearly 10,000 graduates send CVs for online appraisal by HE careers advisors

New research launched to develop e-guidance software for all HE Careers Services

Britainís graduates are turning to the internet in droves for careers advice and guidance delegates were told at the ëServices for Graduatesí conference held today (12 June) to mark the conclusion of the three year, CSU (higher education Careers Services Unit) funded project which explored new ways to provide careers advice and guidance for graduates.
And to build on the success of the ëServices for Graduatesí project, CSU has established an E-Guidance Team to develop further activities to help graduates with their career planning post graduation. New services will include a range of online self assessment exercises and resources; an extension of the role of live chatrooms so that graduate recruiters and careers advisors can deliver live employer presentations and workshops; a wider range of case histories and role model information; and an extension of the Regional Graduate Services section in prospects.ac.uk to include a national gateway for local and regional careers information.
Established by CSU in conjunction with AGCAS (Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services), the ëServices for Graduatesí project comprised a web based interactive careers development service integrated into leading student and graduate career guidance website, prospects.ac.uk.
One of the most popular features was ëGraduate Question Timeí, an email advice facility enabling graduates to email their questions to a team of careers advisors and receive an email response within three days.
This service generated over 1000 careers queries a month and CSU has today also announced a twelve month research project to develop this facility further through a customised web based e-guidance management and administration software package for HE Careers Services to deliver, manage and monitor their own e-guidance service for students and graduates.

Another popular feature was Graduate CV Surgery, a facility enabling graduates to email their CVs for checking by a career advisor. Nearly 10,000 CVs have been checked since the service was launched with nearly nine out of ten users, 88 per cent, claiming they made amendments to their CV as a result of the advice they received. Nearly all, 91 per cent, of users claimed that their ëvirtual advisorí provided ëconstructive feedback which was useful to themí. Users of this particular service tended to be recent graduates in their first year or two following graduation.

Graduate Forum, another popular service, averaged 550 registrations per month with on average 300 posted messages. The most popular discussion subjects are ëhow to get your ideal jobí; ëjobs, whatís out there?í; and ëideas for further studyí.

ëServices for Graduatesí also ran live careers chats with subjects spanning individual business sectors, postgraduate study and self-employment. These events attracted over 4000 registered users and with chat events.

The site also carried a ëFrequently Asked Questionsí service which has attracted over 35,000 accesses to date. The most frequently asked questions are: ëIím not sure what kind of job I wantí; Iím a graduate, unemployed and need a job. What should I be doing?í; and ëWhat can I expect to earn in my first job?í.

Much of the success of the ëServices for Graduatesí project is attributed to its ability to provide a forum for sharing views:

ìGraduates who are looking to find a first position or change jobs can often feel isolated once they move away from campus,î explained CSUís chief executive, Mike Hill. ìOnline facilities such as these enable them to share experiences and get some moral support which all job seekers need from time to time.î

Other ëServices for Graduatesí facilities include Regional Graduate Services highlighting local graduate careers advice and guidance facilities; ëTest Yourselfí, which provides online access to a wide range of psychometric tests, assessments and online careers development tools; and graduate case studies.

In addition to the central service, ten local graduate development initiatives delivered by higher education Careers Services to build on existing provision and tailored to local needs have been initiated. These have included Portsmouth Graduates Online, West of Scotland Graduate Careers Email Service, and Graduates to Merseyside.

ìíServices for Graduatesí exceeded all expectations by delivering a highly successful central careers guidance facility and local web based initiatives. The volume of traffic to the sites and the comments of users have highlighted core requirements which will now be extended to other avenues including HE Careers Services,î said Mike Hill.

The ëServices for Graduatesí services will continue to be available to graduates on