Work experience could boost employment chances

09:16 27th March 2009

Students should seek work experience to boost their chances of securing employment when they finish their education, reports the BBC.

Richard Lambert, head of the Confederation of British Industry, said students should seek a range of experiences in order to help them stand out from the crowd during the current recession.

Working with Universities UK, Mr Lambert has launched a report revealing that 70 per cent of undergraduate students at Surrey University undergo some kind of course - potentially involving computer training - while at the institution.

Furthermore, over 90 per cent of universities said their graduates would have the majority of skills sought by employers.

Mr Lambert told the BBC: "To say that the class of 2009 won't have it easy after graduation is an understatement - competition for jobs will be the most intense for many years."

He added that customer focus, people skills and problem-solving will all be beneficial for graduates to possess before entering employment.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development recently said employees should take advantage of available training courses to improve their skill sets.