THE recession-hit graduate jobs market is a tough one – but one Wrexham student has proved that preparation and perseverance can pay off.
Stephanie Emery will start working as a trainee corporate tax adviser for KPMG in September after beating off competition from thousands of UK graduates.
She landed the position despite the dramatic fall in graduate level jobs on offer in the UK and the increased competition for employment, with more than 48 graduates currently chasing each graduate level job.
The business accounting graduate of Wrexham’s Glyndr University puts her success down to building up crucial work experience and maximising the benefits of a university careers service.
“I’ve been doing all sorts of different work over the last few years – answering telephones, copying documents, working on VAT and tax returns and eventually shadowing qualified accountants – and I’m so pleased it’s all paid off,” she said.
“The work wasn’t the most taxing or demanding but it was extremely valuable. It meant that when I went for the KPMG interviews I could show a commitment and dedication to my career.”
Her success comes as new figures reveal Glyndr University graduates continue to perform well in the jobs market, with one survey revealing the employment rate for its graduates to be 94.1% – up from 93.5% in 2006/07.
Neil Pritchard, careers adviser at the university, said: “Stephanie started thinking about her career early and it really paid off. Her achievement is hugely impressive as competition for places on the KPMG graduate scheme is fierce – the company is ranked third in a list of the UK’s top 100 graduate employers.”
