One in four (26%) people who graduated from university in the last two years have turned down a job offer because they felt they were overqualified or the role wasn’t appropriate for them. This startling figure is revealed as more than 25 companies across the rail sector, including Aberdeen based FirstGroup, have joined together for the first time to help up to 100 graduates get their careers on track by launching a new cross-industry, paid internship scheme.
The scheme, ‘Track and Train’, will provide an all-round industry experience over 18 months, where graduates will enjoy three, six-month placements: one at Network Rail and two at either a passenger or freight operator or another company within the rail sector. ‘Track and Train’ will target young people who have graduated in the last two years but owing to the tough economic times have found themselves either unemployed or more likely under-employed in a non-graduate level role.
The scheme, funded by Network Rail, involves 27 partner companies, including FirstGroup’s passenger franchises: ScotRail; First Great Western; First Capital Connect; First TransPennine Express; and FirstGroup’s open access operator, First Hull Trains.
Tim O’Toole, Chief Executive of FirstGroup, said: “This is a fantastic initiative and I am very pleased that our rail companies are playing an important role. 'Track and Train' addresses the gap presented by our industry structure, which separates train operations from infrastructure management. This program allows graduate trainees to appreciate how the ‘whole machine’ works, improving our effectiveness in developing the next generation of railway professionals."
Patrick Butcher, Network Rail’s group finance director, responsible for the scheme, said: “We know that there are many smart, talented individuals out there that haven’t had their break yet and as a growing industry we can work together to provide challenging, valuable and paid work experience to kick start their careers.
“What sets this scheme apart is those involved will work across the rail industry and by linking it all together, develop a fantastic knowledge and understanding of the challenges we all face and the opportunities for the future.”
As thousands of young people start 2012 looking for meaningful work, Network Rail surveyed those who have graduated in the last two years and found:
Four in ten people (41%) are unsure if they made the right degree choice and a further 14% believe they made the wrong choice.
Graduates have applied on average for nine jobs since leaving university.
8% have been offered no job interviews
65% have been offered between one and three interviews and a quarter (24%) have had more than five interviews.
43% have found it extremely hard or hard to narrow down the type of job they are looking for with a further 34% finding it sometimes hard.
One in five (19%) are not interested in doing voluntary work with a third (33%) only wanting paid work. 19% have already done voluntary work.
When asked what they think employers value most:
- 40% said “work experience relevant to the job”
- 28% “skills relevant to the job”
- 14% believe that top qualifications are most valued
- 10% said “where someone went to university” is what employers are most interested in
29% believe that a lack of experience most puts of potential employers in an
application or interview; 24% say poor spelling and grammar, 16% say lack of
research.
More than one in four (27%) rated their university careers service as “not very
Good” or “poor” with a further 34% saying it was “only partly helpful”.