A DEGREE IS NOT ENOUGH

Academic achievement is no longer a passport to a successful career, according to graduate recruitment expert Simon Reichwald, director of Bright Futures; the UK’s fastest-growing student society.

 

Every year in the UK, over 300,000 students graduate with around 57% achieving a 2.1 or better. That’s around 180,000 graduates with top degree classifications, all competing for a small handful of top graduate jobs. So, companies are no longer able to screen and sift through applicants based on degree classifications alone.

 

Relevant work experience and placements are a key way for students to stand out, develop practical skills in a ‘real-life’ environment and even secure a full-time position. Another way to improve chances is to join Bright Futures, a student society that allows student members to get first-hand access to the best internship and placement opportunities in the country, and interact with large multinational organisations including Deloitte, Reckitt Benckiser and RBS.

 

Bright Futures director Simon Reichwald comments:

“Increasingly, employers want to see what candidates have achieved outside of the education system. So, extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, travel and Duke of Edinburgh awards become all the more important. Other achievements such as CRAC Insight to Management courses or winning the Global Management Challenge will also add weight, but the real key is in combining this with relevant work experience. By joining Bright Futures, students jump the queue and get access to the best opportunities before their peers. ”

 

For further information about Bright Futures, please visit www.bright-futures.org.uk. Simon Reichwald is available for interview and pictures are available on request.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Bright Futures was formerly known as The Student Industrial Society (SIS), a professional body with graduate employability at the fore, focused on enhancing direct collaboration between industry and the student population.

Recently re-branded and repackaged, it's now an even more attractive proposition for UK businesses. As a not-for-profit organisation, it invests monies directly back into events and services to benefit student and corporate members.

 

The society offers genuine value and appeal to students, due to the close partnerships between student committees and members, corporate members and the national Bright Futures team.