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www.nce.co.uk1 11.02.10NEWCIVILENGINEER3
05
BUSINESS Mouche. takeover
Chief executive Richard Cuthbert on why he's fighting VT Group
18
COVER FUTURE Brighton & Hove Albion A spectacular steel arch roof will top Brighton and Hove Albion's new football stadium.
21
WATERSPECIAL Spending programmes
ln the wake ofOfwat's tough priee determinations, companies are deciding their priorities.
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06 News
Boris and Adonis at war over Tube Lines
08 News
Eurocodes survey reveals massive training issues
10 News
Contractor selected fOl Cumbria bridge
14 Major Projeds Hub
Coming soon: The top 100 global projects Letters
Profession, lCE, energy, geotechnical, London 2012
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26 ICENews
Key players debate future infrastructure funding
Comment
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"The market is building and demand for talent is growing"
Graduates, getoutthere and sell yourselves
According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters' (AGR) winter survey, this year looks set to be a good one for students leaving university looking to find work.
While it stm predicts an overall drap in graduate vacancies of 1.6%for the year, compared to the 8.9%fall in 2009 and ils 24.9%original prediction, this is good news.
Not least since some of the bigwinners are, it reckons, set to be in construction and transport where vacancies and the biggest salary growth is expected to be seen this year.
Should we believe this survey?WeIl given the views that continue to flood in to www.
nce.co.uk following my last comment on the subject of graduate employment, there will be more than a few voices of dissent.
As l have acknowledged there are a large number of disgruntled young engineers in the industry right now. Having read the passion of their views on the profession, news of this survey will no doubt prompt them to throw their copy of NCE to the floor.
And maybe they have a point. l sympa- thise with any student who is flOtable to find a rosI graduate job. l sympathise with any graduate whose employer is not rewarding
, them in the manner they feel appropriate. l sympathise with any engineer at any point in their career who has found themselves a victim of this recession.
But this is why l find the findings of surveys so heartening. Of course it is just a snap-shot and reflects average trends. But it does show that the market is tuming and that engi- neering is weIl placed to capitalise early.
That said employability remains very much about the ability to sell Jour talents.
And beyond the stars, the AGR survey also provides some useful insight into the mincis of employers. It is insight that l would insist any young engineer seeking their dream job should heed and it reiterates much of the advice in our annual NCE StudentGuide.
Firstly, make sure that you hnd out as much as you can about a potential employer
and their business/sector before speaking to them - and practice Jour pitch.
Secondly, be flexible and prepared to relocate if necessary to suit the needs of a potential employer.
And finally, to improve employability, don't shy away from temporary work, training or even unpaid work while you wait for a job offer.
l look part in an online careers panel organised by the Guardian newspaper last month during which l was asked about the essential qualities to be a civil engineer.
l said the best civil engineers are great communicators, networkers, passionate persuaders but expert diplomats. While finding the solution is important, selling it to the client gels you raid.
Precisely the same skills are required when securing a job. The market is building and demand for talent is growing. So go out and sell yourself.
