It seems that there are a lot more roles available for graduates this year and that’s a really positive sign. The big names are out and pushing hard as they always do – banks, consulting firms, accountancy firms and the usual suspects such as Unilever, P&G, Aldi and the like. But my shout out to graduates would be this: go a bit below the surface and find the really golden opportunities within smaller firms.

In a twitter chat with nu-recruit.co.uk yesterday it turns out they have a fabulous IT role and I’m pushing hard also to fill a couple of jobs for graduates. I ran a presentation at the University of Liverpool yesterday and had three attendees, compared to the PwC session on interview skills in the room next door than had a full house of about 80. I gave the three chaps who turned up to hear me speak as much as I could in terms of advice, guidance and hints to pass the application process and I am certain that the PwC crowd will not have got anything like as much information. 

Use the search functions of tools like Twitter and you will see a huge array of opportunities. Make contact with people who you meet through social media, too. I have talked to a lot of graduates at fairs and events this season and am looking forward to one of them connecting with me and having a conversation. Lots of roles are also being advertised only through social channels so get to work and the results might just surprise you.