Released on: January 7, 2008, 4:12 am

Press Release Author: Hannah Lane- apt marketing and pr

Industry: Human Resources

Press Release Summary: Graduate recruitment expert, Simon Reichwald argues that
advertising is failing to attract the best graduate talent. Relationship building
is the only way forward!

Press Release Body: Fifteen years ago media such as The Times, The Guardian and
Prospects Today were the main advertising tools available to graduate recruiters.
This changed with the introduction of online recruitment sites which soon, with the
growing size and spread of the graduate market, became the fastest way (and most
cost effective) to communicate with as many graduate jobseekers as possible.

Although online recruitment advertising is still popular with many graduates, it is
an increasingly less cost effective way of recruiting, and Simon Reichwald, Managing
Director of Bright Futures and Graduate Success says it is no longer the best method
for finding the very top applicants: "Most of the best graduates know who they want
to apply to before they start applying. They know this not because they have
searched for all companies offering, for example consultancy or marketing roles, but
because they are aware of the 'best' companies out there. This awareness has been
achieved as the 'best' companies have created a powerful profile well in advance of
the time students start actively job hunting."

We are seeing much more focused activity online i.e. organisations using fewer job
boards. Even the big generalist careers fairs aren't as popular as they used to be,
companies are doing more activity with fewer universities such as focused career
fairs, employer presentations, relationships with Academics and Faculties and
internships, Simon Reichwald explains why this is important: "The key to real
success with this on campus activity is to see it as more than just 'nice to do'
branding. Organisations must leverage the full value from these activities to get
firmly and consistently onto the radar of the best undergraduate talent."

Advertising needs to be examined to see whether it is delivering recruitment success
in the same way it did ten years ago. It's likely that businesses will discover
that the effectiveness of advertising is dying and it's time to get back to
old-fashioned relationship building with students to ensure they attract the top
talent before they graduate.

Ends 07 January 2008


Note to Editors

Simon Reichwald is the MD of Bright Futures and Graduate Success. Simon is
available for interview.

Bright Futures:
Formerly known as The Student Industrial Society (SIS), a professional body with
graduate employability at the fore, focused on enhancing direct collaboration
between industry and the student population.
Recently re-branded and repackaged, it\'s now an even more attractive proposition for
UK businesses. As a not-for-profit organisation, it invests monies directly back
into events and services to benefit student and corporate members.

The society offers genuine value and appeal to students, due to the close
partnerships between student committees and members, corporate members and the
national Bright Futures team. Visit their website at
http://www.bright-futures.org.uk/

Graduate Success:

A specialist graduate selection consultancy. With over 10 years of experience in the
graduate market, they deliberately work with a selected number of companies, around
the UK, who are committed to excellence in graduate recruitment. Graduates and
employers can find out more about Graduate Success by calling 01242 236415 or by
visiting their website at http://www.graduatesuccess.com/.

For further media information contact:

Hannah Lane
apt marketing & pr
Email: hannah@aptmarketing.co.uk
Tel: 01242 250692


Web Site: http://http://www.bright-futures.org.uk/

Contact Details: Hannah Lane
apt marketing & pr
Email: hannah@aptmarketing.co.uk
Tel: 01242 250692