Graduates 'applying for any job' - graduate jobs

Graduates are applying for any job regardless of the sector in an attempt to secure a position, according to new research.

More than half of last year's university leavers plan to apply for graduate roles this year - up against some two-thirds (63%) of 2010 graduates.

With the increased competition, most seem ready to hedge their bets by applying to multiple jobs across sectors and accepting more than one job offer, according to a survey by recruitment firm Alexander Mann Solutions.

The firm stressed the importance of targeting roles that were right for them rather than adopting a "hit and hope" approach to finding a job by applying for every position.

Some 59% of 2009 graduates said they were applying for roles across sectors, while 64% of all those surveyed said they would accept more than one job offer to hedge their bets, the survey found.

Meanwhile, 18% of those who graduated last year admitted to 'blanket applying' in an attempt to secure any job.

Clodagh Bannigan, head of client services at Alexander Mann Solutions, warned businesses to ensure they had processes in place to deal with the high demand for positions without compromising on the human touch, which was "essential" when looking to attract the best young talent.