The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Graduates frustrated in jobs hunt
New graduates are becoming increasingly frustrated when they apply for jobs.
Graduates are disillusioned and frustrated by onerous recruitment processes and poor communication by business when applying for jobs.
KPMG and independent market research company High Fliers Research surveyed more than 400 of this summer’s new degree holders.
The results make grim reading for business, with 34% of millennials frustrated by lengthy recruitment processes and 43% by poor communication from their potential employer.
Over half complained they never received any feedback when applying for a role.
This frustration could impact big business’ future ability to attract talent, with graduates opting out of traditional job schemes in favour of roles in smaller companies, which are more in line with their personal passions and interests and offer a faster and simpler recruitment process.
Catherine Burnet, who takes on the role of regional chairwoman for KPMG in Scotland in October, said: “Millennials don’t want to navigate a cumbersome and convoluted recruitment process when applying for a job and this is something we as business leaders need to understand and address.
“Graduates have given us some hard-hitting, but really useful feedback and we’re using this to overhaul how we recruit.
“From now on a candidate’s final interviews and assessments will take place over the course of just one day and we will make them an offer or give feedback explaining why they were not successful within two working days.”
KPMG has introduced Launch Pad, a new streamlined approach which combines the traditional three stages of first interview, assessment centre and final interview into a single day.
Students will also get the chance to gain new skills, network with KPMG staff and partners, as well as their peers.
KPMG say it is the only ‘big four’ professional services firm to offer this type of graduate recruitment process.
Ms Burnet added: “We are competing with the full gamut for the best brains and talent leaving university – getting our graduate recruitment right is crucial to the long-term success of our business.”