smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Students should not discount SMEs as potential sources of 'very valuable' work experience, a careers advisory body says.

The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) says that while larger organisations may have a well structured internship programme, there are many smaller businesses who will also offer work experience.

Elspeth Farrar, communications director for AGCAS, says that when applying, students should think outside of just the 'big, blue chip companies'.

'There are lots of smaller companies that can offer very valuable experience, whose recruitment processes will not be quite so clearly structured; they will probably recruit on a much more ad hoc basis,' she adds.

ACGAS states that work experience is 'absolutely vital' for students looking to get jobs as most employers look at what an individual has done outside of their degree.

According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters' 2007 survey, an average of 29.2 applications were received per vacancy by AGR employers which equates to a slight increase on 2006.

Up to 64.1 per cent of recruiters are now asking for a 2:1 qualification as a minimum entry requirement.

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