AGCAS

Careers services more popular than Facebook

New research reveals that students and recent graduates are far more likely to use their careers service than Facebook for careers information and advice.

The research shows that, while 77% of students and graduates have accounts with Facebook, only 13% ever use social networking sites for careers information and advice. On the other hand, 86% of students and recent graduates have used their careers service website, with 53% of them regular users. Over 1,700 students and graduates from universities across the UK were questioned for the survey, carried out by Barkers for AGCAS and Graduate Prospects.

A question of trust

When questioned further about their reasons for not using Facebook for careers information, many said they didn't trust the accuracy of the information they would find there. Others were more concerned that social networking sites were not secure.

Students and graduates seem to gravitate to websites they believe they can trust. Besides careers service websites and general careers sites, such as Prospects, the BBC was frequently mentioned as being authoritative.

Interestingly, despite the move towards electronic information and advice, 84% of respondents do not subscribe to podcasts and just 2.8% of the sample said they would download careers podcasts if made available. There was also concern about being overwhelmed by unwanted texts and emails, with 23% of respondents claiming never or rarely to read the emails they receive.

Moving with the times

AGCAS Chief Executive, Margaret Dane, welcomed the research:

'It shows the important role careers services have in providing impartial, up-to-date careers information and advice, which students know they can trust. Web-based resources are increasingly important - and careers service websites are clearly successfully moving with the times - but it's interesting too that 72% of those questioned had made use of their careers service at least once face-to-face.

We know that many more will have used their careers services indirectly, through employability training as part of their course, attending recruitment fairs or employer talks etc, all of which are often organised by their careers service.

Students are a diverse body with a lot of different needs - and careers services are facing many challenges in trying to meet them all. It's great that this research indicates that they are on the right track.'

The full report is available below.

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