MORE than three out of every four graduates are unhappy with the level of careers advice they received from their university, a new study has revealed. Research conducted by CV Centre highlighted that 87 per cent of graduates felt the advice did not prepare them for working life.
Just 8 per cent said they were confident at writing a CV without any help from their university and slightly more than one in 10 (12 per cent) were given the opportunity to have a one-on-one session with a careers adviser while studying.
Figures also showed that only one in eight graduates had a job lined up before leaving university, and under a quarter secured a job in their chosen field within six months. Graduates from the greater Belfast area were among the most unhappy, the study found.
A total of 85 per cent of students from the north were not pleased with the level of careers advice given at university, compared to 74 per cent in London and 83 per cent in the greater Manchester area.
About three quarters of those at the north's universities felt that the careers advice they were given had not prepared them for working life while 6 per cent said they did not need careers advice and were confident when writing a CV.
The study also questioned decision-makers in business, 29 per cent saying employers had received graduate CVs with irrelevant degrees.
Almost four in 10 also said employers had received a graduate degree with spelling mistakes. "Universities are not only in place to educate young students and improve their expertise in their chosen field - they should be providing students with the skills and knowledge to prepare them for a successful career," said James Innes, founder and chairman of CV Centre. "Considering the rise in tuition fees, the advice students are looking for should be readily available - but the research found that many are seeking external advice to increase their chances of finding a job in their preferred sector."