Profile:
Emily Huns: Head of Careers at Queen Mary
Can graduates still earn a lot more than A-level leavers?
They can do, yes. Much depends on which sector and role the graduate goes into. Average graduate salaries – in the larger firms which report such figures – were increasing year-on-year for a long time and have stayed remarkably stable during this recession.
What should students do – study a subject they are likely to enjoy, or one they think will lead to a job?
Generally, one they enjoy and are good at, since motivation and a good grade are two of the five most important factors in making a graduate employable. The other three are relevant work experience, a real understanding of what a job entails and a well presented and evidence based application and interview (ask a careers adviser about this!). Remember that many graduate jobs are open to students of any discipline.
Career prospects and employability
To gain an advantage in today’s competitive work environment you will need to start planning your career as soon as you start university.
Developing key skills and employability
Employers are increasingly seeking graduates who are better prepared to start their careers and can demonstrate how they have developed transferable skills while studying for their degree. We have worked with our students, graduates and academic staff to define the key attributes shared by all Queen Mary graduates. Our priority is that students graduate with a thorough knowledge of their attributes and transferable skills, from having a global outlook to being able to conduct effective research – and are able to build on this in the next phase of their lives. This means we can develop our curriculum and innovative teaching practices in a cohesive way. It also gives Queen Mary students a good idea of what they are capable of achieving during their time with us.
We identify the key skills you will need to gain through your student years as:
- communication – both written and oral
- organisational skills
- working with others – teamwork
- leadership skills
- problem-solving
- numeracy
- use of IT
- learning how to learn
- personal and professional development and self-awareness
Whatever subject you study, you will develop transferable skills. That’s because the way you learn – for example, working in small groups, using the library and preparing presentations – applies to many different disciplines.
While these transferable skills are an excellent starting point, there are other ways to improve your employability while at university. Many employers value commercial awareness, so any work experience is invaluable. This can be in a part-time or voluntary job. If it’s related to your area of study, then so much the better. The Queen Mary Careers team can help you find a suitable position that fits in with your academic commitments. See: www.careers.qmul.ac.uk/
Another language can also make you more employable, so even if you’re not studying one as part of your degree, you can sign up for a language course with the College’s Language and Learning Unit. Choose from a wide range, from Arabic to Italian. See: www.languageandlearning.qmul.ac.uk/
The job market
According to the latest Sunday Times League Table, Queen Mary graduates are in the top ten for the highest starting salaries in the UK. This, together with the fact that a large proportion of graduate recruiters are based in London, means that Queen Mary graduates are well placed when it comes to finding work.
The value of being a graduate
A salary and vacancy survey based on job advertisements in the 2007/08 issue of the annual graduate recruiters’ directory, Prospects Directory, showed that two-thirds (66 per cent) of vacancies advertised are open to graduates from any degree discipline. This reflects the trend that many employers are looking more for the 'soft' skills that graduates acquire during their study rather than their knowledge in a specific subject. Where specific degrees are required, disciplines most in demand, at 17.3 per cent of the total, are engineering and technology. Please note that occupations which require additional qualifications such as law, medicine and education, are not covered in this survey. Source: www.prospects.ac.uk
Average graduate starting salaries
According to the most recent Graduate Recruitment Survey produced by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR summer 2009), the median salary for graduates in 2009 is £25,000. This average is based on responses from 226 major graduate recruiters – all large organisations. The findings are summarised below.
| Graduate starting salaries in 2009 | |
| £16,000-£19,000 | 3.6% |
| £19,001-£22,000 | 7.2% |
| £22,001-£24,000 | 31.4% |
| £24,001- £27,000 | 26.3% |
| £27,001-£31,000 | 9.8% |
| £31,001-£36,000 | 11.3% |
| More than £36,001 | 10.3% |
Queen Mary's Careers Service
Our Careers Office provides a range of services including:
- Arranging careers events where students can meet prospective employers and network with past students
- Guiding students through their career options after university
- Advertising vacancies
- Training students in CV- and application-writing and interview techniques
- Advising on whether postgraduate study will improve employment prospects
- Helping students find work experience and part-time work on and off campus
- Providing skills training for student groups such as Students’ Union societies and volunteers
To find out more visit: www.careers.qmul.ac.uk