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| Name | Transcript |
|---|---|
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Hi. This is Jim Knight, Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform (but not typing) looking forward to chatting with you for the next hour. |
| edenhere09 : | Hello Jim Could you please tell me what help the government offer graduates looking for work? I graduated this summer Thanks |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Hi - sorry this system doesn't tell me your name - there are a range of things we have been doing for graduates as part of Backing Young Britain. We have increased the number of postgraduate research opportunities by 24,000; we are well on our way to producing 15,000 internship opportunities; we are working with employers to offer mentors for young unemployed people and then there are the range of things that you have access to as customers of Jobcentre Plus. |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Just to continue from the last message while I wait for the next question, obviously the big question is whether there are jobs for graduates to apply for. Without getting into a lecture on macroeconomics, this is where the stimulus comes in. Injecting money in to the economy, financed by borrowing, has already saved half a million jobs. Despite opposition we will continue this co-ordinated with the other big economies in the world, to try to ensure economic growth is accompanied by jobs growth. This will be a big feature of the political debate in the next year. |
| edenhere09 : | Thanks Jim I've graduated with a 2:2 in media studies. Is my degree useless or is it relevant to the options you've outlined here? Should I take an entry level job? Thanks, Eden |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Eden, I certainly believe that having a degree under your belt is well worth it. As the Prospects advice for graduates says it is probably worth taking work that doesn't require a degree so you can gain experience and work your way up, but your employer and future employers will know you are a graduate and may fast track you as a result and as business improves. Media studies is much derided in the media! However the creative industries are huge and growing and should not be so easily discounted. My local university is Bournemouth where the media school is a world beater and has great graduate employment rates. Media studies is much derided in the media! However the creative industries are huge and growing and should not be so easily discounted. My local uni is Bournemouth where the media school is a world beater and has great graduate employment rates. |
| paulosmith : | Hi Jim What exactly is Backing Young Britain? Is it for Grads? Cheers Paul |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | oh, and Eden the internships are hugely important in media. Many media professionals began that way but it was on the basis of people they knew or their family knew. Creating these internship places increases fair access. |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Paul - Backing Young Britain is for all 18-24 year olds. It is a combination of the 6.9 billion we are spending to support young people in education and employment, and a call to action to employers to do their bit. That might be as a mentor, offering work experience, internships, work trials, creating a Future Jobs Fund job, or apprenticeship jobs. We know there is a great demand from young people to work and train but Government can't meet that on our own, we need businesses to do their bit too. |
| Ricky_prospects : | Hi Jim. i have graduated with a 2:1 in economics but have failed to secure a job because most bsinesses ask for previous work experience. What has the government done to help people in my position who dont have work experience to get int work? |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Hi - congratulations on your 2:1 - I scraped one of those too a few years ago! Work experience and "employability skills" are a big issue for employers. That is why the internships are an important opportunity. Equally there are plenty of volunteering opportunities and then things like sports coaching or other community work can show employers that you can work in teams, communicate, are confident and capable of leadership. Often that is really what they want when asking for experience on a CV. We always say the best way to get a job is to have a job - that is true and playing up what temporary work and part time jobs you have done is really important. |
| juliewright83 : | Hi My name is Julie, I've a 2:1 Business Mgmt degree - graduated this summer. What advice do you have for graduates starting a job search for the first time? Thanks Julie |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Hi Julie and well done on the degree. I was pretty impressed with tips on the Prospects website. Job searching is a full time activity. Don't use a standard CV for all applications - tailor your CV to suit the job and apply on the basis of quality. The web means you can research employers and understand their history and plans and how this job might fit into it. You can then tailor your application to suit. So quality over quantity. Then don't be too proud - I have a 2:1 as well from Cambridge University but sold telephone directory advertising for five years. That was pretty miserable but a great experience and I worked my way up to become a director of the company. So entry level can be the right answer. And don't dismiss the internship opportunities. Also don't be alone, a job search can be tough and lonely so network with your mates through social networking but also meet up every now and then and compare notes. Editor’s note: There’s also great information and advice for graduates at www.direct.gov.uk/graduates |
| csandison : | Hi Jim, I have been doing some part-time work for an SME in between my final year of study. What are the government doing to support these businesses in terms of graduate employment programmes? Thanks, Craig |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Specifically there are some opportunities for mini-pieces of research to be funded. For those unemployed over 6 months there is a £1000 employer subsidy that may be attractive to SME employers. SMEs have pushed us to do more on mentoring and internships which we have done too. There are also self employment options for those unemployed over 6 months where you get extra help but that is always worth thinking about. My first job after university was in a co-op business I set up with friends I graduated with. Editor’s note: The Government funds Mini-Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, a programme which subsidises the temporary recruitment of graduates to undertake research for an SME. |
| juliewright83 : | Thanks Jim, that's good advice. Am I entitled to job seekers allowance while I am looking? I still live at home with parents |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | It is very important to go down to the local Jobcentre Plus and talk to them. You can now apply for Jobseeker's Allowance online and entitlement is based on two years National Insurance contributions or on an assessment of household income. But even if you don't yet qualify they can give good advice, and by signing on you start to become eligible for help from the Government. Editor’s note: Graduates over 18 and living rent-free at home with their parents won’t be able to claim Housing Benefit, but if they’ve got savings less than £16,000, they may be entitled to income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. People living in a shared house with flatmates or sharing with a partner and paying council tax may be able to get help with paying rent. |
| mikeeasterbrook : | Hello Jim, I graduated this summer. I was faced with a lot of companies offering unpaid intern ships, many lasting several months. I have read that this is a grey area, in times of exploiting graduates. Is there regulations in place to control companies exploiting graduates for unpaid work? |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | I might need to get back to you on the exact regulations to protect graduates from exploitation but they are there as part of the enforcement of the national minimum wage which we brought in about ten years ago. Jobcentre Plus should also be able to advise you but if you have any problems get in touch and I'll get you chapter and verse! The TUC had some concerns along the lines you have expressed but the gains are so strong for employer and intern alike that we decided we should give it a push. It is also worth saying that you can do unpaid work and still be entitled for Jobseeker's Allowance if you can still say you are looking for paid work and available to start within a week. Editor’s note: Employers are encouraged to pay a wage that reflects both the value of the intern's contribution and the level of training and support offered. In some circumstances certain employers may offer unpaid internships. It will be for graduates themselves to decide whether to take up such offers where the position is attractive and will benefit their skills development and employability. All employers have a responsibility to take account of guidance on minimum wage, treat interns with the same fairness and respect afforded to other employees and respect their rights at all times. |
| martymarty : | hello. what is the government doing to tackle rising youth unemployment? thanks Martin |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Martin First we are trying to manage the economy nationally, and through the G20 globally, to minimise the recessionary impact on jobs and get back to growth as quickly as possible. According to the International Labour Organisation that has already saved 7-11 million jobs across the 20 richest countries. Then for young people specifically we are guaranteeing every 16 & 17 year old a place in school or college that wants one; we a developing a guaranteed apprentice place for every suitably qualified young person that wants one; we have funded more university places than ever before. I have already discussed the 15000 internship places, the work experience and work trials we've made available with employers. And then today we have the first Future Jobs Fund jobs starting - this is a £1 billion scheme to create 150,000 new jobs, at least 100,000 of which are for young people. |
| juliewright83 : | Do you have contact details for Jobcentreplus? I'm based in Manchester Thanks Julie |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Julie - now you are testing me! Best thing to do is to go to www.direct.gov.uk and you should also be able to find them on Google. |
| melhughes51 : | Hello Jim I also have a question about internship opportunities. Are the internship opps for grads worthwhile? Or would I be best off looking for an entry-level job from the word go and then work my way up? MelanieH |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Hi Melanie, You may be best off asking the university careers advice service that based on your own background and ambitions. Both offer really good work experience to put on the CV and show that you want to work. One offers money the other potentially higher levels of skills. Perhaps you could think about doing both! You maybe able to do the internship and get a part time job during evenings or weekends. There are quite a few retail jobs on the market right now in the run up to Christmas. Editor’s note: Employers with a specific vacancy also offer Work Trials usually lasting for 1-2 weeks. During this period the Jobseeker can continue to receive Jobseeker’s Allowance. In most cases the work trial leads to a permanent Job. Work trials are available from day 1 of a claim for young people aged 18-24. |
| mikeeasterbrook : | Thanks Jim for that advice, will past that on to friends in the same situation. I have decided after several months of searching for work to go back to Uni and have recently started a Masters in Accounting and Finance, In hoping that the jobs market starts to grow again. |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Good luck with that - more education can be the answer too, but it is good to see you doing a more vocational course. The world always needs accountants! |
| boastmatt : | Hi Jim What should I do if I can't find work? How do I go about retraining? Cheers Matt |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Again talk to the personal adviser at Jobcentre Plus about that. Depending on your circumstances we should be able to help you with various courses and in some areas we have skills advisers coming into Jobcentre Plus to give skills advice. |
| juliewright83 : | Thanks for all that information. One last question - if I am claiming jobseekers allowance, will I be forced to apply for and take any job which comes available? |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Julie, You need to show us that you are actively seeking work, but we can't force you to take a particular job. So when you go in for the fortnightly interview over the 5 minutes or so they will just want to know what you have been doing to find work and want to see that you are being realistic. Editor’s note: To claim Jobseeker’s Allowance you must sign an agreement with your personal adviser specifying the kind of work you will look for based upon your background, qualifications and skills. After 13 weeks, if you have been unable to find work within your preferred sector, your advisor will discuss other options available to you according to your abilities and career objectives. |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | I am going to have to go in a minute or so - anymore for any more? |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | I am advised that if grads want to make a claim for benefit or contact Jobcentre Plus for further info they should call 0800 055 6688. To make a claim for benefit, a phone operator will need to take down details about savings, rent and NI, so have these on hand before you call. |
| Jim Knight, Employment Minister : | Thanks everyone for joining in. J |
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