Recruitment processes for Irish employers

According to the gradireland Graduate Salary & Graduate Recruitment Trends Survey 2011, our annual survey of graduate recruiters, the number of companies using an online application system and those accepting CV and covering letter remains strong. There has been a strong decline among graduate recruiters in companies accepting paper applications forms, although you are more likely to come across this with smaller organisations (SMEs).

Of the companies taking part in our survey, 50 per cent only accept online applications, 29 per cent accept CVs with a covering letter (either by post or e-mail), 19 per cent accept either online or paper application forms, and 1 per cent only accept paper application forms.

Recruitment deadlines

The traditional view of graduate recruitment is that of the milkround, where companies run their campaigns in the first academic term, with an application deadline generally before the Christmas break. But according to our survey, this tradition is no longer a reality in the annual recruitment cycle.

There is still activity around careers fairs and employer presentations during the first academic term but this is now more important for companies to engage with finalists as they begin to decide which sectors and employers they would like to work for. It is less important when it comes to recruitment closing dates.

Our survey shows that 43 per cent of companies in Ireland do not have a specific deadline and will accept applications for most or all of the year. This is a continuation of the trend over the last three years and reflects the current uncertainty in the economy, with companies recruiting on a year-round basis rather than committing to their graduate recruitment requirement (and budget) in the traditional pre-Christmas period. This is good news for finalists and graduates, who get more than one chance during the year to apply for jobs with graduate recruiters.