Demonstrate your achievements

3 February 2011



It has been reported that last year there were as many as 45 applicants chasing every place on graduate recruitment programmes. Dani Novick, Managing Director of print and packaging specialist Mercury Search and Selection, looks at the outlook for graduates.


Whilst graduate recruitment was up by 12.6% in 2010, competition for places remains tough. Added to this, three out of five leading companies will not interview applicants who haven’t spent some time working at the company beforehand.

It’s no surprise employers are looking for evidence that people can actually do a job and it applies equally to those in mid-career as those starting out. Employing people is always a risk, and interviews give a limited insight. Psychometric testing can help, but there can be no substitute for hard evidence of achievement.

I specifically say achievement because I abhor the use of the word experience. Experience is such a weak descriptor. Just having experience doesn’t tell me if you are any good at the job.

Job competition is tough and employers need to limit the risk, so you need to demonstrate your knowledge and some level of a success.

For recent graduates and people fresh into the market, work experience and internships are an excellent way of gaining real work knowledge, dare I say experience, and an opportunity to show you can come up with the goods in a real work environment. Work placements must be taken seriously: understand why you are doing it and what you expect to do and learn. Discuss with the employer what is expected of you, what they can provide, and how you will be monitored and measured. Your aim is to leave not only with an insight into the work environment but a glowing reference and some quantifiable achievement.

Who knows, you may even get a job offer.

Mercury partners the IOP:The Packaging Society with www.packagingfutures.com and the British Printing Industries Federation with www.jobsinprint.com


Dani Novick. Dani Novick

Dani Novick Dani Novick


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