Unemployed graduates should be prepared to stack shelves or work in a bar rather than travel the world or undertake further study, according to a report that predicted the first fall in recruitment in six years.

 

The Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR), representing hundreds of leading employers, said that it expected graduate vacancies to decline by 5.4 per cent this year, with recruitment in banking expected to fall by 28 per cent.

 

The findings are likely to come as a shock to many of this year's graduates. Even those who do secure a job in 2009 will find that, for the first time in more than 30 years, starting salaries are frozen.

 

source: Sunday Times

With unemployment on the rise and possibly another 1million could lose their job in the next year, what should graduates reasonably expect to do once they finish their courses?

I disagree. They're only young once so let them see a bit of the world for a year if they like. Wish I'd travelled more when I was younger. :(

Exactly, an employer would be more keen to take a student that has already done the travelling thing knowing they've done it and it's time for the career move.

 

I graduated nearly 4 years ago now and I'm still chasing that career! It's not easy...

The only graduates that are more likely to travel are the ones with the rich parents.

 

With the way this country is going there isn't much opportunities out there for students who have completed their courses.