The latest research conducted by the UK's leading discount website www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk has found that just 17% of graduates expect to get a job after finishing university.
The survey of 1386 past and present graduates also revealed that four fifths would work for free to get valuable work experience. 79% of those surveyed said that they would be willing to work completely unpaid if it would help them get a job in the future.
Of the fifth of graduates who said that they wouldn't work unpaid, more than half, 51%, said that they wouldn't be able to support themselves without an income, whilst a quarter said that they thought they would be able to get a job based on their qualification alone.
Just 31% of past graduates went on to get their desired job upon finishing university, with a quarter of these, 26%, saying that they are still awaiting their dream job. 62% of past graduates admitted that they found it difficult getting a job in any field whether it was or wasn't related to their studied subject.
Two thirds, 67%, of present graduates said that they weren't sure what they were going to do upon finishing university. Of these over half admitted that that they would be willing to take any job after leaving as long as it meant that they were still earning.
Of the total number of graduates who were surveyed 4 in 5, 81%, said that they thought businesses were exploitive to those desperate to work. Over half, 55%, of those surveyed said that they felt undervalued in their chose industry.
Mark Pearson*, managing director of www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk said: "It is a sad state of affairs that so many qualified students have to work for free in order to get on the job ladder. Many students have the most up to date and fresh knowledge of the industry so it seems unfair that they aren't getting paid for their input.
"I think that businesses should aim to invest more time and money into employing graduates. There are now even graduate schemes that give businesses money for the number of graduates that they employ.
"This however, should not be the only motivation for employing a graduate; by investing in someone and spending both time and money on them can be very beneficial for your company."
Go to www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk for more.
*Mark Pearson, MD of MyVoucherCodes is a regular media contributor regarding online shopping and the credit crunch. MyVoucherCodes is claimed to be the UK's most popular discount site.
