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Graduate employers are 'looking for some experience' from university-leavers

Published: Wednesday, 13 April 2011   Category: Career Advice

People intending to enter graduate vacancies should work while they are at university. Not only because it will mean a bit of extra money, but also because graduate employers are looking for "some experience" from applicants.

Steve Burford, founder of student finance website Wealthy Student, said the answer to reducing student debt is to "earn while you learn".

By doing this, he said, students are also gaining experience that they can benefit from after university, which will in turn lead to better graduate opportunities.

"Graduate employers are looking for much more than a degree nowadays, they need to see that you have some experience in the sector you are going into," he said.

"[If you work,] you'll … have money coming in at university and won't have a problem finding a job when you leave."

Earlier this week, the Trades Union Congress announced that the government's refusal to change the interest rate on student loans from the retail prices index to the consumer prices index will leave graduates thousands of pounds deeper in debt.

Find your graduate opportunities at gradplus.com