Research commissioned by T-Mobile UK has revealed that most graduates possess strong mobile communication skills which are of considerable value to SMEs, and yet many are omitting this information from their CVs.
The T-Mobile poll of 500 SME employers and 500 graduates and students carried out by YouGov found that mobile technology skills in the workplace are in high demand, with 51% of employers valuing new staff being able to quickly adopt mobile technology and work effectively from remote locations. An additional 48% of employers believe that graduates with proven skills and experience of using laptops and mobile technology such as mobile broadband, PDAs and Smartphones, are extremely valuable to their businesses.
Most students (78%) stated they have the technical aptitude to be able to work effectively out of the office if and when required once employed. However, the study also discovered that 84% have not included any information regarding their mobile communication skills on their CVs, indicating that graduates are not selling their skills effectively.
Roger Tweedy of the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) agrees that the research identifies an area where graduates could be more forthcoming about their skills.
He explains, "It is great that todayÃ's graduates would feel confident working remotely and we need to convince them that these skills are not possessed by everyone, are valuable to employers and are well worth highlighting in their CVs. In careers such as sales, consultancy, marketing and events management, employees spend a large amount of time away from the office and businesses recognise that providing them with the appropriate technology can greatly increase their productivity, even at a junior level. If graduates already have the ability to use this technology they are in a better position to enter the workforce."
Founder of the mobile learning company Ookl, Dan Medicoff works with schools and museums to introduce mobile learning technology to students. He comments on the findings, "There are a number of ways that mobile technology can help achieve educational outcomes. If applied correctly it not only improves studentsÃ' experiences but also introduces them to technology that is now ubiquitous in a work setting. The earlier this happens in their education the better."
The research also revealed that 39% of employers will be hiring less graduates over the coming months due to the current economic climate. 27% of employers admitted they would be more likely to look for graduates with technology skills. Tweedy comments, "Given the increased competition, employers will be looking for even more ways for graduates to stand out above their peers. One of these ways could well be their technical aptitude."
Oliver Chivers, Head of Business Marketing at T-Mobile UK concludes, "We are pleased that our research has uncovered an area valued by employers where graduates have an abundance of confidence in their ability. We hope that graduates will be encouraged by the findings to promote their technical abilities at a time when competition is particularly tough for entry level professional roles."
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1292 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 24th - 29th October 2008. The survey was carried out online. The figures have not been weighted.
Posted to the site on 18th November 2008
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