IT Recruitment – The Value of a University Degree

Going back a couple of generations, to have a university degree was for the bright few. For the next generation, degrees became a lot more common – degrees became as common as A Levels. The changes in how tuition fees are funded means students today are questioning the real value of a degree, particularly if it is not compulsory for the chosen career.
A recent study reveals how UK recruitment professionals perceive the value of a degree in the current job market. Over 50% of people admitted if they could turn back the clock they would choose NOT to go to university.

The research was executed by CV-Library and targeted the country’s leading recruiters to establish the main issues effecting graduate employment and the value of a degree in today’s working environment. The research was reported on by Owain Matthews. Over 700 recruiters responded. Some of the key findings were:

1. 8% would choose not to go to university.
2. In the current job climate 81.4% believe a degree is becoming less essential to securing a job.
3. Over the next 10 years 47.2% believe degrees will have an even smaller value. 33.6% believed degrees will have the same value as today. Just 19.2% believed they would be more important.
4. 2% suggested degrees were only important for securing jobs that demand one.
5. Less than 25% thought the number of graduate job opportunities will rise.

Despite these key findings, 90.6% of the recruiters firmly believe the most employable candidates are those with a relevant degree and excellent work experience.

At ISL Recruitment we believe it continues to be difficult for young people to secure their first career role. Having  a degree gives you the time to gain some work experience in different industries so you can be confident when you start working full time you are in the right place. Of course the ideal is all the right work experience and relevant qualifications. ……

Contact us for information on graduate and non-graduate opportunities. We’d love to talk to you.

5 Questions Chief Executives Need Answers To

Preparing for that final interview with the Chief Executive takes some extra thought and time. This may be your final hurdle before you receive a job offer and your interview technique may just make all the difference. ISL Recruitment have years of experience working with interviewees and welcomes working with applicants preparing for this all important last step.

An article by Hannah McNamaraprovides some insight into the questions Chief Executives are looking for answers to. The questions may be phrased differently or you may feel you’ve just had an informal chat, but usually the Chief Executive is looking to tick through and check they have the right answers.

1. Are you commercial?

Chief executives are largely measured by their numbers so if you want to impress, prepare yourself so you can talk numbers. Demonstrate you have an understanding and are interested in the business, the wider industry and can bring this into the role you are interviewing for. Go armed with information on a couple of your key achievements – what was the return on investment?

2. Are you strategic?

You may have a great track record operationally, but to go to the next level often the chief executive is looking for someone to think and behave strategically.  You need to show you understand and agree with the organisation’s vision, mission and goals. If they don’t have them documented then a good exercise would be to draft out some suggestions.

3. Do you understand our culture?

Every organisation has a slightly different culture. The chief executive needs to know you are going to be your own person, but you are also going to be able to work with the other senior executives. Find out as much as you can about the other senior executives – company website, social media etc. Check out their official photos on the company website to gain an insight into the dress code.

4. Do you respond well to being challenged?

The more senior you are the more responsibility you have and the more likely you are to be challenged on decisions and outcomes of you and your team. Can you handle being challenged? Often chief executives will be challenging in an interview just to see how you react. Stay calm and be ready to back up anything you claim in an interview.

5. Can I trust you?

You need to show you can be a person to be trusted so any company issues can be worked through confidentially. During your interview try and bring in some examples of how you have been trusted in your current role.

Show the chief executive answers to these questions and you may well be on the road to receiving a job offer. For general interview advice click here. 

Contact us to discuss your next career steps.