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Wednesday 19 August 2009

Results: what next? The dilemma

It's results week - remember that? I do. The fear, the uncertainty, holding that envelope in your hand knowing it could shape your future.

Back then, I had a good idea what I wanted to do, how to achieve it - and most importantly - I knew there were opportunities out there.

The results students of 2009 have no less ambition or drive - but their opportunities are limited, through no fault of their own, because we're in the middle of a recession. Even graduates are struggling to find the level of position they're qualified for. One recent report revealed 45 university leavers are applying for every graduate position.

The figures are worrying: the highest unemployment level for 15 years - nearly a million of them in the 18-24 year old age group. School leavers facing the worst conditions since 1929.

But there are alternatives to job hunting. There is, of course, the increasingly popular gap year which offers - quite literally - a whole world of possibilities.

There is the option of looking at further study and that doesn't have to mean academic study. Vocational courses could be a valuable option, arming you for the world of work while giving you the skills to elevate you above the usual entry level.

We have been involved in sponsorship of business, secretarial and administrative based courses at local colleges in and around Peterborough. They've suffered from a lack of students applying for them. But the skills taught on them are universal leaving students in good stead for securing any number of roles.

It's about exploring all the options available, taking the market conditions into account and making the decision that'll best work for you.

That's what I did too!

http://www.recruitmenttoday.net/News/Story/?title=School%20leavers%20face%20worst%20conditions%20since%201929&storyid=678&type=news_features
http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk
http://www.gapyear.com

Thursday 13 August 2009

ACR’s light in the gloom

The headline national unemployment figure doesn’t look good – 2.4 million with predictions it could reach three million by the end of the year.
Our consultant Kerry Tanner was interviewed on the radio, shortly after the government released the numbers, and asked for our – local – take on the national figures.

And that’s where we can knock the doom and gloom on the head – or at least shine a little light into it.

Because at ACR, after – and we’d be the first to admit it - a very slow start to the year, things have begun looking up in the last three months.

As Kerry told the BBC Radio Cambridgeshire interviewer: ”We have found the job market very different from that of last year – but we have found an interesting trend.

“From the end of March to July we have seen a steady increase in roles coming into the business – permanent, temporary and contract.
“There has been a vast difference in the volume this year compared to last year as you’d expect in the economic doom and gloom but there does seem to be more movement in the local market than in the national market.”

Her comments are based on genuine figures and, while we don’t want to over egg the situation and say everything is fine when clearly it’s not, it does seem that Peterborough is a bit of a hotspot of employment.

And that can only be a good thing for those of us living and working here.

Monday 10 August 2009

MP Stewart Jackson pledges support

We believe passionately in what we do and in providing the very best service to our clients and candidates.

That’s why we’ve taken a stand against the new Agency Workers Directive – well before it reached – and was passed in – Europe.

And we’re delighted to say that we have the full backing of our MP Stewart Jackson.
On the surface the directive is a positive step – offering temporary workers equal treatment to their permanent counterparts.
In reality it could prove the death knell for a range of temporary roles in companies, charities and groups across the region as they struggle to meet the estimated 20 per cent increase in the cost of using temporary workers and to cover the administratve burden.

Unfortunately, the legislation is now set to be introduced – despite the best efforts of us, our trade body the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and other agencies like us – with just the date to be fixed.

We’re asking it be pushed back until the last possible moment – October 2011.
Mr Jackson agrees.

We invited him to our office to discuss the directive and to urge him to support us.
After listening to our arguments he agreed the directive appeared ‘unworkable’ and said ‘we need to keep the pressure on the Government’.
He hinted that if the Conservatives were to win the next election, he would push for the directive to be ‘killed off – or least watered down’.

We’d be delighted if that were to happen though we feel it’s probably more realistic to fight for delaying the introduction of the legislation.

We’ve asked Mr Jackson to be in Parliament on the day it’s discussed to fight our corner.
I’ll keep you posted on future developments.
 

Anne Corder Recruitment 2008-2012. All Rights Reserved.