Graduate Employment Patterns of graduate employment can change dramatically over a period of only a few years. Indeed, prospects for graduates have improved considerably over recent years. Furthermore, the less seasonal nature of graduate recruitment is now to the advantage of many doctoral postgraduates completing degrees at any time during the academic year. The postgraduate scientist is now experiencing the healthy situation in which the major employers in, for example, the chemical, electronics and pharmaceuticals industries actively recruit high calibre people for research, design and development posts. For Arts graduates, however, the demand outside education is more limited, although public sector employers, who recruit graduates with degrees in any discipline, will consider applications from candidates with Higher Degrees.
All employers now seek other competencies in addition to academic excellence.