Recruitment It is the season when young people swap university for their first proper job. This year some of the larger agents have been looking for more graduates than ever before. Samantha McClary reports
Hundreds of new surveyors began their careers in earnest last week, as graduates pulled on fresh, crisp shirts, buffed their shoes and made their way into the world of work.
The number of graduates being taken on across business is at its highest level, according to recent research from the Association of Graduate Recruiters, with a 13.2% rise in 2014-15.
And the real estate community is not bucking the trend.
Across the large agencies, numbers have increased – some as a result of the recent spate of M&A activity; others because of the need to service an increasingly active market.
Savills has led that pack in terms of numbers, with 108 graduates joining the firm – an increase on last year, due to the addition of graduates joining the Smiths Gore business, which was bought by Savills for £40m in April.
The agent said that demand for places had been high, with a 10% increase in applications. And the demand continues, with applications for the autumn 2016 intake opening on 1 October.
The newly merged business of Cushman & Wakefield and DTZ was not far behind Savills in terms of numbers, with a combined intake of 91.
Head of UK & Ireland Colin Wilson says the number is a record for the UK business.
“This demonstrates the importance we place on investing in and nurturing new talent. The graduate experience is something that must remain relevant and aspirational,” says Wilson. “A key strength of the new Cushman & Wakefield is the diversity, experience and strength of our talent. We aim to employ the best people in the business and our graduate programme is a key investment in our future.”
Across business, graduates can now expect to be better remunerated than in years gone by. The Association of Graduate Recruiters found that average graduate salaries had increased by 3.7% on 2014 to £28,000, with the median salary after three years on the job rising by 4.5% to £35,000.
“Employers are doing more to invest in graduates with a continued increase in vacancies and rise in salaries,” says AGR chief executive Stephen Isherwood. “This investment is paying off. Despite the perception that all graduates are job‑hoppers, graduates stay with our employer members for an average of five years. What’s more, only 6% leave in their first year on the job and just 11% leave before the end of two years.”
And there seems to be a real commitment across the property consultancies to invest in young staff members. At Knight Frank, which this year took on 40 graduates (up from 32 last year), teams are sponsoring existing support staff to do RICS-accredited qualifications part-time, in addition to the formal graduate scheme.
Recruiting from a more diverse pool is also high on many of the agents’ agendas. JLL, which saw a 23% increase in its graduate intake this year to 74, said it went beyond the traditional universities in its hunt for fresh talent and changed its method of communication.
Amelia Dowty, emerging talent acquisition manager at JLL, says: “We launched a digital campaign called ‘A Place with Potential’, which offered a chance for candidates to show what potential they saw in the buildings or spaces around them. Entrants sent pictures via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram of buildings and spaces, with a description of what they see them potentially evolving into, in a bid to win the prize of being fast-tracked through the initial test centre to the first interview stage.”
JLL intends to build on the programme this year, with a plan to attend 30 careers fairs as it seeks to show young people that property is an “interesting, stimulating and exciting career choice”.
How to secure your graduate role
With applications for next autumn’s graduate intake now largely open, and demand likely to continue to outstrip supply, standing out from the crowd will be key. EG offers some top tips.
• Make sure your covering letter is crafted for the firm to which you are applying. Blanket letters can be spotted a mile off and will not stand out or show commitment.
• Do your homework. Research the company you are being interviewed by. Be prepared for any question that might be thrown at you.
• Be smart. Polish those shoes, tuck in that shirt/blouse.
• Be curious. Ask questions when you get the chance. It shows you are interested.
• Clean up your social media footprint – Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn. Potential employers will look. Make sure the public forums are professional and that anything you want kept private stays that way.
EG has curated a special Graduate area on its website, with free access to news and opinion from industry leaders. Click here for more and interact with us on Twitter using @estatesgazette
