Image management

University careers services have had to re-think how they coach their students in promoting themselves to potential employers. ‘As careers professionals, we need to talk to students about how they manage their image by using language and terminology that they understand,’ says Redmond. ‘You never get a second chance to make a first impression; they can’t just turn up to careers fairs in jeans and a T-shirt. But if we use phrases such as ‘self-branding’ – when teaching them about competing and using all their skills – then they’re often far more receptive.’

Employers need to think about how they communicate their employment profile to Gen Y as much as they must consider carefully what they’re offering. Recruiters need to explain themselves in language that’s better understood by potential Gen Y recruits – particularly if they have shorter attention spans, yet are still extremely bright and must know what they’re doing.

That may mean the end of traditional, structured, formal presentations; anecdotal evidence indicates attendances have been dwindling. ‘Some universities have actively discouraged employers from organising presentations,’ says Redmond. Instead, networking events are being used – with great success at Liverpool: ‘At these occasions, the atmosphere is deliberately unstructured,’ he explains.

‘Employers and students mingle, there’s food and drink – but it’s still all about networking. Students don’t want to think of themselves as part of the herd; they want individualised contact.’