University leavers should be assessed on more than just their academic achievements when applying for graduate jobs in the accounting and finance sectors, it has been argued.
Just recently, the leading accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) announced plans to launch a new graduate recruitment drive aimed at bringing on board those candidates who may have just missed out on a top degree grade, but who are able to impress with other aspects of their CV.
And while this is likely to have caused some disquiet, particularly among academic high-flyers, some experts feel that such a shift in focus away from "arbitrary" qualifications represents a move in the right direction and will benefit both employers and graduates.
Speaking to Personnel Today, Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, called on more employers to follow PwC's lead, with this likely to allow them to benefit from more talented candidates.
"For employers it's important that when you are going to invest many thousands of pounds in graduates that you recruit the ones that have the potential to develop as you want them to and are likely to stay the course," he explained.
Just last week, PwC again made the headlines after its report called for the state retirement age in the UK to be raised to 70.
