Advice for Sheffield university graduates as they head into 'uncertain' job market

But not all hope is lost according to Helen Smith, head of the careers service at the University of Sheffield, who says that although the graduate labour market has been ‘significantly impacted’ by Covid-19, recruitment has not stopped entirely.

Some sectors, including hospitality and tourism, have understandably been affected alongside small and medium-sized companies which are currently focused on staying afloat rather than recruiting.

Ms Smith, however, says that graduate roles are still being advertised, especially in those sectors less negatively affected by the pandemic.

She said: “The jobs database available to University of Sheffield graduates is being added to daily with roles in sectors such as health, technology, engineering and business services.

“It’s true that some employers have stopped recruiting, and many are yet to decide about recruitment plans for the rest of 2020.

"Smaller businesses and those in the retail and hospitality sectors have been particularly hard hit, both locally in the Sheffield region and nationally, and the long-term economic consequences of the pandemic will disrupt student and graduate job opportunities for some time to come.

“In recent years graduate career pathways have been evolving rapidly with companies seeking new skills to help them navigate new technologies and new customer expectations.

"The world of jobs and careers has been changing in response to what’s known as the fourth industrial revolution, powered by new technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, big data, and digital.

"This has been influencing the way that almost every organisation works, and that brings a demand for new, higher level skills to keep driving innovation and business adaptation.”

Graduates have a breadth of skills to offer – not only knowledge but also the research skills and ability to apply knowledge, the critical thinking skills and creative problem solving that studying at a research-intensive university helps students to develop Ms Smith said, urging teenagers to not be put off applying for university during these difficult times.

She added: “There are indications that the Covid-19 pandemic is having an accelerating effect on the changing demand for skills, so as businesses now work to respond to new demands and challenges, they may well need more graduate-level talent, not less.

“Companies of all kinds are increasingly aware of the positive impact of the agile and innovative thinking that students and graduates can offer, and that they’ll need these skills to power business recovery and growth.

“So, although the graduate job market might have slowed for the moment, the career prospects for those with a degree will be better than for those without.”

While the effect of coronavirus on the job market will undoubtedly have been an unsettling time for students and graduates – aware that their work experience and job options are likely to be more limited and that there will be more competition for jobs - it seems this many only be temporary.

Many careers advisors are now encouraging graduates to remain patient and optimistic and, perhaps, look at a role they had previously never thought of.

Ms Smith said: “We’re advising our 2020 graduates that, although the career opportunities they expected might be harder to find, there are other roles out there. Develop a plan B and C. Have a good think about what your transferable skills are, the attributes you’ve developed during your studies and your personal values and behaviours.

“University careers services are very good at helping students develop this self-awareness and understanding, and that’s what employers want to hear from applicants for higher-level jobs - rather than what the company can do for you, consider how you will be able to add value to their business.

"So, graduates should try not to despair - be confident that your degree and your university experience will have equipped you with a wide range of valuable skills, and you can keep adding to them with online learning or getting some work experience or volunteering activity.

“Spend some time reflecting and developing your self-awareness and access all the assistance your university can offer to strengthen your CV and job applications.

"Get all the support you can and keep trying. Getting through what can be a challenging time will also add to your skills and help develop your confidence. Your future is out there - it might just look a bit different to your pre-Covid expectations.”

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