Intense competition for graduate jobs is fuelling record applications for big companies, research has shown.

The biggest recruiters of graduates received unprecedented numbers of applications last year and are expecting even more this summer. Thousands of top graduates are expected to miss out on places.

Job interviews are under way for those graduating this summer, but many of the jobs will have already been filled by those who failed to find positions last year.

A survey by the research company High Fliers suggested that graduate vacancies will rise by 12 per cent this year, after falling 18 per cent in 2009. Yet supply may outstrip demand; tens of thousands of graduates have applied for the biggest four accountancy firms alone.

This year’s next biggest recruiters will be the Armed Forces and Teach First, which trains talented graduates to teach in inner-city schools.

Michael Barnard, a spokesman for Milkround, a graduate recruitment website, said that competition from last year’s unsuccessful graduates would squeeze out many people this year. “The general feeling is that graduates are going to face a tough time this year,” he said. “The increase [in vacancies] is good news, but it’s still not enough to result in all the graduates from the past two years being employed.”..>> Read More

Source: The Times Online
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article7000779.ece