A sample poll conducted amongst members of the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) has revealed that many employers still have unfilled vacancies for 2014, with nearly nine out of 10 (87%) of employers reporting unfilled vacancies.

Members reported vacancies nationwide, and urged graduates to think about opportunities outside of London and the South East: there are a great many positions still available across the UK.

The findings follow the AGR’s 2014 Winter Survey, which announced a predicted 10% increase in graduate vacancies on last year. When asked to cite why the positions remained unfilled, 55% reported that that have increased their graduate intake targets for 2014. However, 67% of employers also said that the applications they have received thus far have been of insufficient quality.

Chief executive of the AGR, Stephen Isherwood, commented: “Much is being made at the moment about the ‘value’ of a university degree in the job market, but we know anecdotally from our members that most candidates fall down at the application stage – so often graduates are not taking enough time over their applications and thus not representing themselves in the best possible light.

“First impressions really do count, and in most cases the first impression an employer receives is a CV or job application. I’d urge all graduates to really research sectors and roles that they’re applying for, tailoring each approach to show why they want that particular job and what relevant skills they can offer an employer. There are graduate vacancies out there and making fewer, targeted applications rather than taking a scatter gun approach to finding a job will pay dividends in the long run.”