Creative Industries prove top choice for student job seekers

Creative industries – reputedly the most difficult to gain experience in, are proving to be the most popular searched and applied for sector according to the latest figures by the innovative web-based job broker site UsefulStudents.com.

The figures taken from over 10,000 students registered on the website, shows that the most popular temporary jobs are those in the creative and digital industries. With over 70 per cent of jobs posted in the sector, areas such as digital design and web companies lead the way and the sectors having the most uptakes from students range from advertising and design to architecture, film and the performing arts.

As overall competition for jobs increases, simply wanting to work in the creative industries is no longer enough, hands on experience is key. Recent figures releases announce that graduate unemployment has doubled in the recession to its highest level for more than a decade. Having a degree no longer makes you stand out in the crowd of applicants and students are realising that relevant work experience can put them in a better position when applying for post graduate roles.

Andrew Howes, operations director of www.usefulstudents.com, said: “One in five students who left university in the past year is unable to find work within six months. The way employers are recruiting is changing so with many more graduates than jobs, students need more than a degree to get noticed – work experience is key.”

The jobs posted by creative companies have seen the most uptake; UsefulStudents.com believes that this is because these are jobs that can be done remotely and flexibly to fit students’ own timetables. Work from web design companies for example can be done remotely and TV extra work, which also receives significant applications can be undertaken at weekends. Other popular options are bar and promotional work, translation and research services.

Andrew adds: “The results we have to date highlight that jobs in the creative industries are very popular, however, there is also tremendous demand for more traditional, less high-tech design and creative jobs for those students who have chosen their career path and need specific experience.”

UsefulStudents.com has already attracted thousands of students nationwide to register to its service and seen over 5,000 job postings since its launch in 2010. The jobsite, now present in 22 university cities estimates that students applying for temporary jobs via the site have earned a total of more than £100,000 in wages.

The website is completely free to use for both the students and job providers, who can either be commercial businesses or individual home owners. Jobs that are posted on the site range from unskilled labouring and gardening to skilled tutoring or coaching. The more unusual jobs posted have included hypnosis assistants, mud wrestlers and bouncy castle attendants.

The current trend for creative industry jobs can be advantageous to those students who are happy to work in the background. Jobs such as in the back-stage arena for example, in live events and theatre (spanning stage management, technical theatre and lighting, sound, costume, wardrobe etc) require a variety of skills. There are jobs going in these areas and many more sectors that can be taught at graduate level.

The increase in interest for creative jobs by the students using the Useful Students service, mirrors the growing employment rates in the sector which totalled 2.3million jobs in the industry in the summer quarter of 2010 (July – September).

Mike Howes, commercial director of www.usefulstudents.com adds: “We have seen a significant difference in the frequency of jobs being posted and applied for in certain sectors over others. Students are very aware that when you graduate you are not guaranteed a job, you’ve got to take the initiative and go out there and create opportunities for yourself, with the website you can start doing this while you’re studying.”

He added: “We believe that the service is providing employers with a pool of highly qualified and committed temporary workers and at the same time enabling students to earn some extra income while gaining valuable experience.”

Since its successful launch, UsefulStudents.com has partnered with Milkround.com in a deal set to benefit the 2,400,000 students currently at university including around 450,000 set to graduate next summer. Students registering with UsefulStudents.com will also be able to sign up for regular updates on graduate jobs and internships matched to their career ambitions from Milkround.com. The partnership aims to help students prepare to embark on careers after graduation while also helping them to find occasional work while still at university.