Careers advice for final year students in 2021

Posted: March 2021

• Some sectors (such as the Arts, retail and hospitality) have been hit harder than others. TargetJOBS share information on how different sectors have been adapting to the pandemic in more detail. 
• In light of social distancing measures, the majority of organisations have moved to remote recruitment selection processes, including phone and video interviews.  
• Research from job search engine Adzuna indicates that although there are fewer vacancies being advertised in comparison to pre-pandemic levels, vacancies are making a tentative recovery despite the current lockdown (February 2021) and the UK leaving the European Union. The fast roll-out of the vaccine across the country and the government’s announcement of the roadmap out of lockdown may also offer hope for rising vacancies.   
• Due to the transferable skills you gain from your studies, you may discover that there is a much wider range of options open to you than you may first appreciate. Many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so exploring broader opportunities in the short term could be a good strategy in a more challenging economic environment.  
• This article from Prospects takes a look at how COVID-19 has affected recruitment and skills shortages 
• Find out how coronavirus has impacted the self-employed and what this means if you are considering self-employment 
• Experimental data from the Office for National Statistics tells us that in April 2020, just under 50% of people in employment were doing some work from home, 86% of whom were doing so as a result of the pandemic. There is a strong indication (e.g. Ball 2020) that homeworking is here to stay in some form beyond the pandemic, particularly for professional services and IT roles.