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Future Fit: Preparing graduates for the world of work, a report released last week by the CBI, has emphasised the importance of work experience in the marketplace for jobs. The report says that students must make the most of the chance to get valuable work experience whilst still at university.

Director General of CBI, Richard Lambert said that, "To say that the class of 2009 won't have it easy after graduation is an understatement - competition for jobs will be the most intense for many years. Of course, businesses don't expect graduates to arrive on day one fully trained, but what they do value in graduates are their people skills, a focus on the customer and a keenness to solve problems.”

Mr Lambert pointed out that it's no good graduates leaving university regretful of the opportunities they had to gain work experience during campus life. The report highlights how some universities and businesses are working together to find their students work placements during their studies. They are also trying to find ways to integrate employability skills into university courses. More often than not this kind of training is open to students of any subject – not just those which are thought of as vocational ones.

581 recruiters were canvassed for their opinions and 78% valued ‘employability skills’ as essential. And, 9 in 10 of the higher education institutions surveyed said that it was likely or highly likely that graduates could expect to gain five of these seven employability skills during their university years.

The report was sponsored by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and you can read the full report on the CBI website.

Whether or not you are lucky enough to have the opportunity of gaining some work experience at university, you will find lots of openings in the e4s section of internships and work placements.