Finding a job
Recruitment and HR
HR has become increasingly popular with employers as they come to appreciate the legal and financial implications of not having good HR. Organisations offer specific graduate programmes and entry level positions to enable graduates to get a foothold. Vacancies are advertised on individual organisations' (in both private and public sectors) websites, as well as in journals and newspapers.
Larger organisations usually hire for their HR Graduate programmes between September to December each year, so check the websites of the firms you are interested in early, to confirm the dates and deadlines. Vacancies may appear under other sectors as well as HR, e.g. Human Capital Management, General Management, Administration, or the sector of the organisation's main business, for example an HR vacancy at a bank may well come under the finance sector. Recruitment consultancies often advertise vacancies throughout the year.
Who recruits the recruitment and HR areas?
Many organisations across different industries, such as financial services, construction and healthcare need HR personnel. Typical employers can include:
- Small and medium-sized enterprises
- Social enterprises
- Charities
- Local government
Useful websites to help you start your job search
- Personnel Today – Online resource with comprehensive job vacancies listing and useful careers advice in article form.
- Local Government Jobs – Listings of current vacancies in local authorities UK wide. Search on 'Personnel Assistant' or similar to find a number of HR entry level posts suitable for new graduates.
- Simply HR jobs – Specialist job site for the HR sector.
- Targetjobs – Website dedicated to graduate jobs, work experience, news, careers advice and deadlines, with sections specific to recruitment and HR.
- Graduate-jobs – Dedicated HR section provides information on HR jobs around the UK.
- Milkround – Information on 100’s of internships and work experience opportunities across the UK and Worldwide.
- The Guardian – National newspaper with dedicated careers/jobs section including information on HR schemes.
Recruitment agencies
Recruitment consultants work with individuals to help them find suitable work to match their skills. Agency Central is the UK's leading recruitment agency directory. An advanced search and filter system finds the agencies which match your needs.
Are you looking for a role in Hampshire? Our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy can help!
If you're in the final year of your degree, you can register for support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy. They work with over 3,000 employers in the local area to place our students into fantastic graduate careers.
Speculative applications
Speculative applications involve sending a CV and cover letter to an employer to ask if they have any vacancies, even if the company is not currently advertising for a role. They're a great way to access "hidden jobs" that go unadvertised.
Submitting a speculative application shows your interest in a specific company and your willingness to go above and beyond to develop your skills and understanding of the industry.
Learn how to send a speculative application
Start your own business
Freelancing is another popular career path for those in accounting, finance and economics. Many rely on their portfolio, self-promotion or networking to generate work. Our Student Startup team can offer further support with freelancing and starting your own business.
Further information
If you need more information why not check out some of the resources below to help you to research a sector in more depth.
- Access the link register with our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to sign up with the University of Portsmouth's very own on-campus graduate recruitment team.
- Michael Page – Recruitment consultancy that regularly recruits graduates from any degree discipline as trainee recruitment consultants.
- Reed – Provider of permanent, contract, temporary and outsourced recruitment solutions, IT and HR consulting.
- Agency Central – UK's leading Recruitment Agencies and Job Sites Directory. To find specialist recruitment agencies, select an appropriate ‘skillset’ to bring up a list of suitable agencies.
- People Management – Online magazine of the CIPD, HR and training careers
