Tough jobs market means graduates need experience, says CBI

27/03/2009

Graduates need work experience along with their qualification to help in the search for jobs, according to the Confederation of British of Industry (CBI).

Speaking yesterday, CBI director general Richard Lambert said: "Of course businesses don't expect graduates to arrive on day one fully trained, but what they do value in graduates are their people skills, a focus on the customer and a keenness to solve problems."

He added both universities and businesses needed to do more in providing work placement opportunities while they were still at university.

Mr Lambert made the comments at the launch of a combined CBI and Universities UK report Future Fit: Preparing graduates for the world of work.

The report will include examples of how some employers are already working in partnership with universities to provide students with experience which can help them in later careers.

Universities UK is a representative body for the higher education sector with membership consisting of the executive heads of UK universities.

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