For some graduates, when it comes to getting a job - computer says no!
Release Date: 03 October 2005
Many students will be familiar with the Little Britain character who dismisses a bank application with a short: ‘Computer says no’, based on an automated score. And while many businesses will tell you that you’re ‘more than a number’, in light of recent research you’d better make sure they’re right when you apply for your first job, warns one leading graduate recruiter.
Jonathan Evans of Discovery Recruitment said: `Research by the Institute for Employment Studies has pointed out the pitfalls of screening graduates simply by UCAS points for example. With more graduates to choose from, recruiting people that have commercial experience and the right behavioural traits as well as a good education is a more sophisticated approach, and one that in our experience yields much better employees longer term.’
The IES research showed that ‘screening applicants on prior educational qualifications (eg UCAS points) is quite widespread, but disadvantages those who have come through non-traditional educational routes. Screening by class of degree is also a very crude proxy for competence, and may risk overlooking some of the softer skills and capabilities that employers value.’
Discovery Recruitment has designed special services for those businesses that don’t have a formal graduate intake programme, but do value the bright, fresh, young and educated talent that can often be less visible using automated methods of selection.
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