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Graduate engineering job hunters told to 'try harder'

Published: Wednesday, 24 June 2009   Category: Science, IT and Engineering

While the media insistently produces pessimistic reports on the state of the graduate job market, one recruitment service has urged university leavers looking to get into engineering to make more of an effort.

Sean O'Connor, director of Gradcracker.com, told New Civil Engineer that the reports have been "exaggerated" and students should not give up looking for a graduate job.

He added that half of the employers on their website are currently looking for degree-holders to fill their graduate engineering job positions.

Other sources have told the news provider that, while larger firms are cutting back on graduate jobs, small businesses are struggling to find university-level talent.

Greg Lettington, director of Hays Civil & Structural, said: "Recent graduates should consider focusing their efforts on areas that are showing resilience such as bridge or highway maintenance engineers, which is faring better because of the public sector investment."

It was recently proposed by trade union Unite that engineering jobs, including those for graduates, will be created if the government invests in green energy.