Only 3 per cent of recruitment consultancies find that graduates favour small organisations, research shows.

73 per cent of recruitment agencies and 82 per cent of graduates believe work experience is the route to finding a job, according to a recent survey. However, 68 per cent of graduates stated they would take the first job offered rather than the right one, with more graduates applying for a wider array of jobs.

With regard to the graduate candidates coming forward, 40 per cent of consultancies found that more graduates are accepting unpaid internships. This fact is unsurprising given that over the next 12 months, 63 per cent of agencies believe that there will be more candidates than job opportunities.

Preference for size of organisation

To provide SMEs with a better understanding of what they can expect when looking to hire graduates, Iconnyx surveyed candidates to understand their preference for size of organisation. Only 3 per cent of recruitment consultancies surveyed found that graduates favoured small organisations, and 50 per cent of graduates had no preference towards working for a small or large organisation.

Tim Walker, Iconnyx Managing Director commented: "I believe these results show that graduates are overlooking the opportunities and benefits associated with SMEs, who in many instances are less exposed to global market instability. Whilst it might seem like a risk in the current climate, small to medium size organisations have the agility to respond to market opportunities, and can be more flexible with regard to hiring staff.

"Whilst it is positive that graduates are getting work experience, the opportunity for career progression in an SME compared to a larger organisation should also be a factor to be considered by universities when giving careers advice."