Employment opportunities with smaller employers

With the expansion of higher education in recent years, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are becoming increasingly important in providing employment opportunities for the growing number of graduates.

SMEs are usually defined as those firms employing under 250 people. By considering opportunities with these firms in addition to larger employers, graduates broaden their choice of employment options. Indeed, it is estimated that no more than 20% of graduates actually secure a place on a ‘hi-flyer’ graduate training scheme with a blue-chip employer.

For smaller employers, the decision to recruit graduates can be a particularly major one, and an SME may expect to see very real benefits in a short space of time. In turn, there is a tendency for SMEs to give graduate recruits more responsibility at an earlier stage, with training tending to be 'on the job'. As for what SMEs are looking for in their graduate recruits, according to a recent report, SME owner-managers stated the five key attributes as personability, the ability to grasp an issue, a streetwise attitude to real life business (not just theory), the ability to get to work by 8am and ability to work hard.

For more information go to employment in small and medium-sized enterprises.

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