Sir, Companies are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit graduates who meet their “required” skills because the majority of graduate recruiters’ required skills are unrealistic, inflexible and so they reject even the most able candidates.
The almost standard 2:1 from a “good” university, 300 UCAS points (AAB), relevant work experience, voluntary work and leadership roles in various clubs (sporting or otherwise) translates into a candidate from a leading private school who went to a redbrick university and was supported by their parents (giving time for improving activities).
The idea that anyone who does not tick all these boxes is somehow incapable of performing a graduate job role is simply laughable. I would be interested to know how many of today’s leading chief executives would live up to this new graduate standard. I suspect the majority would fail.
I have a 2:1 academic degree from a top 25 university, voluntary and paid work experience, but only BCD at A level. I have been praised for my job performance by every employer I have worked for, but have been unable to even gain an interview for a graduate-level job.
I should have done better in my A levels (there were mitigating circumstances but I would not use them as an excuse), but graduate employers refuse to believe that a person can increase their drive, determination and ambition after the age of 18. There is no shortage of excellent graduates out there, if recruiters decide to come back to reality.
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DARLA DANYA
London SE5
Sir, For many years most UK companies, unlike their foreign competitors, have regarded sales with contempt. It came as little surprise to me, therefore, that my 21-year-old daughter, who is reading law (2.1 anticipated), has had not a single interview or advanced to stage 2 of any graduate recruitment programme, despite having worked in Australia during her gap year as a door-to-door salesman of energy and telephone plans (about as hard as it gets in sales). Having formed her own team to do the same, she won the sales of the year award.
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Almost every company requires people with the skills to sell and lead. What does this experience say about the HR departments of our biggest companies?
PETER KAUFMANN
London NW2