Graduate Employment and Internships: Issues from the Environmental Sciences and Sustainability Sectors

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Graduate Employment and Internships: Issues from the Environmental Sciences and Sustainability Sectors Graduate Employment and Internships: issues from the environmental sciences and sustainability sectors The Institution of Environmental Sciences www.ies-uk.org.uk IES u REPORT Contents & Acknowledgments Contents 2 Acknowledgments 22 Motivations and Benefits 3 Executive Summary 26 Paid or Unpaid? 5 Background 29 Constraints 7 Research Methodology 31 Content 9 Profile of Participants 33 Length 10 Graduate Employment in the Sector 34 Recruitment 13 Graduate Skills 35 Are They Worth Doing? 15 Opinions on Internships 37 Conclusions 18 Experiences of Internships and Placements 42 References Acknowledgments Authors: Adam Donnan & Robert Carthy About the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES): The IES is a charitable organisation which promotes and raises Researchers: Robert Carthy & Rachel Godfrey public awareness of environmental science by supporting professional scientists and academics. The IES promotes and Special thanks: Jamie Agombar (NUS), Gillon Dobie (IES), supports environmental science and sustainable development Ann Finlayson (SEEd), Nick Goodman (Change Agents), Julia in universities and colleges both nationally and internationally. Heaton (IES), Phil Holmes (IES), Professor Steve Martin, Jessica Further details can be found at www.ies-uk.org.uk. Mayall (IES), Shayani Weeresinghe (IES), Keele University, Middlesex University, University of East Anglia, University Copyright statement: © 2011. This paper was first published in of Gloucestershire, University of Plymouth, University of November 2011. Copyright of the published materials is held Portsmouth, University of Reading, University of Sussex, by the Institution of Environmental Sciences. We encourage University of Southampton, University of the West of the use of the materials but request that acknowledgement of England, University of Ulster, University of York, all the the source is explicitly stated. graduates who took the time to participate in the survey and all the members of the IES who shared their opinions and Contact: Institution of Environmental Sciences knowledge on this topic in interviews for this report. 34 Grosvenor Gardens London SW1W 0DH T: +44 (0)20 7730 5516 E: [email protected] Registered charity no. 277611 2 IES u REPORT Executive Summary Executive summary The Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES) recognises Graduate Employment in the Sector: 23% of graduates there are clear problems related to graduate employment said they were unemployed, which is greater than the in the environmental sciences and sustainability sectors. national average for 16-24 year olds (20%). Of the graduates Exacerbated by the economic downturn, this report highlights in employment, 44% were not working in the environment more deep-seated problems in Higher Education, the graduate sector, 76% of who said this was because they could not job market and the pathways from a degree into employment. find a job there. Nevertheless, 80% were either actively seeking or aiming in the long term to find employment in the The Issue: Recently, a significant number of graduates environment sector. have contacted the IES for advice after many unsuccessful applications for jobs within the sector. This is in line with Key Finding: It is not a lack of interest, but a lack of available comments by employers that suggest recent graduates do not positions, that forces people out of the sector. have adequate work-based skills, and are unlikely to get a job without work experience. Graduate Skills: 13 of the 30 employers interviewed agreed that ‘graduates had the skill set required for entry-level jobs’. Graduate employment can be described as a ‘wicked’ or However, there was little consensus amongst employers unbounded problem due to its complexity, ambiguity, tension regarding graduates, their skills, workplace value and any and risk. The research here aims to identify, quantify and responsibility employers bear to train them. understand these issues, with particular focus on internships, the ethical issues surrounding them and the expectations that Key Finding: Few employers think that graduates do not have graduates and employers place on their value and role within the skills required for entry-level jobs. Of those that do, it the graduate employment market. is because graduates have: poor communication skills, poor technical ability, and trouble working independently. Method: This research was based upon a series of surveys aimed at both graduates from environmental related degrees Opinions on Internships: Graduates clearly identified and employers in the environmental industry. internships as a ‘learning experience’ and ‘foot in the door’. Amongst employers there was little consensus surrounding 424 graduates responded to two online questionnaires which the definition of internships. However, they thought there gathered information on: was a role for internships in the labour market although many expressed concern about the ethics of unpaid work. 1. the current employment status of environmental science graduates; and Key Finding: Most graduates and employers agree that internships provide a valuable learning experience. 2. graduates’ experiences of internships. Disagreement surrounded the issue of whether internships should be paid or not. Additionally 14 case studies were submitted describing in greater detail graduates’ experiences of internships. Motivations and Benefits: Graduates sought internships mainly to apply their knowledge in a practical way. However, 30 employers were surveyed in the form of a telephone half of graduates said it was because they could not find a questionnaire that aimed to: full-time position. 50% of graduates were seeking internships to secure full-time employment. However, of those graduates 1. gather their views on graduate employees; and who were doing an internship at the time, only 23% said that it would secure full-time employment. 2. identify the value they placed on internships and the format they should take. Internships provided employers with short-term, inexpensive help for specific tasks or during busy periods, and allowed them to ‘try out’ potential employees on a flexible basis. Graduate Employment and the role of Internships in the Environmental Science and Sustainability Sectors 3 ExperiencesIES u REPORT of InternshipsExecutive Summary and Placements Key Finding: There are differences between what graduates Are they worth doing? Most graduates who had completed seek and what they gain from internships. Employers benefit or were currently doing internships said that they were a from internships' flexibility and casual nature. valuable experience. Of the 129 graduates who were now working in the environmental industry, 49 had worked as an Paid or Unpaid?, Constraints: 65% of graduates said that intern, of which 46 said that the internship had helped them their internships were unpaid, while 17% provided no secure their current job. However 80 graduates who were reimbursements (travel/food expenses). 53% of graduates now working in the environmental industry did not work as said they had not done internships because it would not be an intern post-graduation. financially viable, 38% because they were unable to find one. Many graduates attributed this to internships being mostly Key Finding: Internships provide a valuable route into the situated in and around London, which was too expensive or environmental industry. However they are not the only path far away from their homes. into the field, and may be inaccessible for many individuals. Only nine of the 30 surveyed employers provided Conclusion: Fundamentally, this research has identified internships, of which only three were paid. Of the remaining that there is little consensus amongst both graduates and 21, employers did not provide internships due to either/or; a employers regarding the purpose, worth and format that an lack of staff time for training, no need, training requirements internship should take. Nevertheless, they clearly provide a would make short placements unfeasible. valuable route into the environmental industry. Key Finding: Most internships are unpaid and difficult to The report concludes with guidelines from the IES on obtain, especially outside of London. This is considered internships, divided into learning, accessibility and treat unfair by most graduates. Few employers provide internships, of interns. These are intended to protect both employers mainly due to issues surrounding training. and interns. Length: Of graduates currently undertaking internships, 49% said it was for six months or longer. 48% of graduates believed that internships should be up to three months long. Employers' responses ranged from six weeks to approximately one to three years. Key Finding: There is no defined length of internships. Graduates believe that internships should be shorter than employers believe or provide. Recruitment: Employers acknowledged that the employment market has been difficult. There are many highly qualified graduates but it is often easier to train existing staff. Furthermore, employers advised graduates to steer clear of recruitment agencies as they often did not use them. Key Finding: The graduate market is congested, but it is better for graduates to apply directly to firms rather than using recruitment consultancies. 4 IES u REPORT Background Background The global recession is heavily affecting graduate Although exacerbated by the global financial recession, the employment. Labour market statistics released in October current graduate unemployment
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