by John Plummer With competition for places on company graduate schemes fiercer than ever, applicants may be tempted to embellish their CVs or settle for a job in a swine flu call centre.

Some companies, such as BT, have closed their graduate schemes because of the recession. But most big groups are continuing to recruit — although getting selected is harder.
This year’s newly qualified are competing with people who took a gap year in 2008, when the recession started to bite, as well as older graduates who have been made redundant.

Dan Hawes, co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, says: “We saw a similar scenario when the dot-com bubble burst but not to this protracted length.”

Applications for the 210 places on Tesco graduate schemes rose by 41 per cent this year. “It has definitely become more difficult,” says Lucy Hoyle, the store group’s graduate recruitment manager. The company added an extra stage to its recruitment process this year by introducing a day’s work in-store.

That companies can afford to be so picky means graduates must demonstrate more than fine brains, says Hoyle. “We’re looking for someone who is really passionate about retail and can display the skills required,” she says. "People who stand out and have something different have a better chance. We had a football referee join this year; what he did immediately set him apart.”

The typical recruitment process remains: CV, telephone interview, psychometric tests, face-to-face interviews and finally an assessment centre. However, the sheer volume of applications means more people are being weeded out at the first stage so CVs require extra attention.

Companies are increasingly using automated electronic systems that pick up key words, so check the company’s terminology and include enough buzz words to prevent your application being culled by computer.

If your CV survives it will still sit in a pile too big for anyone to tackle with enthusiasm so it must stand out. “You need to get their attention in seconds,” says Hawes. “Think of it as a sales document. Don’t lie but you must be positive.”

A personal profile of three or four sentences saying what you want to do and why is essential, he says. “Everything else on the CV should support that statement.”

Assessment centres, which involve individual and group exercises as well as competency tests, are often the most stressful stage. “If anyone asks for advice I always say ‘be yourself’,” says Hoyle, “because if you are putting on an act it will eventually be discovered.”

GlaxoSmithKline, the healthcare group, offered 130 graduate positions to 4,800 applicants this year. “What we are looking for even more this year is motivation,” says Jane Howard, UK university recruitment manger. “Graduates should prepare by becoming familiar with press stories, trends in the market and have gained work experience where possible.”

Jennifer Eccles, 25, has just accepted a job as a menswear buyer at Marks & Spencer after completing a one-year graduate scheme at the company. She talked to staff at M&S stores as part of her preparation for getting on the scheme. “I got a feel for the staff and the products.”

She says there is no substitute for researching the company by reading its website and annual report. It is then important to act naturally at the interview.

“Most of the information you need is there if you look for it,” she says. “Then you need to have some confidence and drive and knowhow to speak to people.”