One way to find out more about these recruiters is to register with one or more of the 50 or so so-called “specialist graduate recruitment” websites. However, research with graduates who left university this year shows that just six of these sites were widely used by student jobhunters.

Of these, two stood out as clear market leaders in 2005. Prospects (www.prospects.ac.uk) is widely promoted at UK universities as the “official graduate careers website” and provides good, general careers advice plus specific details of graduate programmes. The site’s career-centre section includes links to local university careers service websites, employment suggestions for different degree courses and research on what graduates do after university.

Prospects’ registered users receive e-mail or text updates that match their course or career interests with individual employers’ vacancies and/or provide information on relevant postgraduate courses.

At Milkround (www.milkround.com) — the second most-popular recruitment site with graduates in 2005 — the emphasis is firmly on employer information. The site includes searchable vacancy listings, application deadlines, a calendar of local careers events, as well as advice on applying for employment in different sectors. Register your career preferences to receive reminders of upcoming deadlines, details of campus presentations and up-to-the-minute vacancy information from employers large and small.

MARTIN BIRCHALL

Times Recommends

• Inspirational leadership
• How to get a new job
• The reluctant CEO