This page summarises Group GTI’s (‘GTI’) advertising handling policy. GTI is responsible for the distribution of opportunities for students and recent graduates to the targetconnect Link network of 80+ university platforms and targetjobs (our UK-leading graduate careers website).
Opportunities fall within one of the follow categories:
GTI’s guidelines are maintained in collaboration with universities and employers to ensure they are useful, fair and legal. There are two stages of checks:
We endeavour to provide the widest possible range of opportunities to students and graduates, working in partnership with employers and other organisations to support the business needs of recruiters while protecting applicants from potentially inappropriate organisations or opportunities.
Once an employer has registered to the targetconnect Link network and posted their organisation information and opportunities (such as vacancies), both the organisation and opportunities are reviewed by Group GTI in line with our Advertising Handling Policy before distribution to the university careers system(s) and/or targetjobs as selected by the employer. Each university destination within the network then reviews for final approval and publishing into their career platform.
Please note that approval for new organisations registering may take 24 hours. Listings from existing organisations will be actioned on the same working day.
What should be included in the opportunity information?
Being detailed and informative about the company, role and qualities sought, helps support applicants in making informed choices. It also creates hiring efficiencies through boosting application relevancy and candidate motivation.
What should NOT be included in the opportunity information
GTI has a right to refuse opportunities (see section below). Some common rejection reasons are:
We specialise in early careers, helping students realise their potential in the world of work through technology, content and tools. As such we are selective in the types of opportunity that can be promoted via targetjobs and the targetconnect Link network.
Supported opportunity types
Graduate jobs
A graduate job is typically an opportunity for those who have recently completed their university education and hold a degree or higher qualification. Graduate jobs can be found across all industries and sectors, providing an entry-level route for graduates to begin their careers. These can be a fixed-term contract, full time or part time.
Graduate schemes
A graduate scheme is a structured programme designed by an employer to develop future leaders for its organisation. Graduate schemes tend to be one to three years long and can be in a fixed field or rotational.
Internships
Internships are temporary positions within an organisation that are typically offered to students or recent graduates who are looking to gain practical experience in a particular industry or field. Lasting up to 11 months, employers often use internships to source future graduate hires.
Placements
A placement is a 12-month period of work experience, which is integrated and assessed as part of a student’s degree. Placements require students to apply their learning from the course in the workplace and vice versa. Employers often use these to source their graduate hires.
Work experience
Work experience is a period during which someone works for a company or organisation to get experience of a particular type of work. It provides individuals with the opportunity to learn about the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of a particular job or industry, as well as to gain transferable skills. This should always be paid.
Training opportunities
Training aims to provide instruction, education and guidance to individuals or groups to improve their skills, knowledge and competencies. This can be free, paid for or via a scholarship.
Insight programmes
An insight programme is an opportunity to give a student an insight into an opportunity or a role. Insight programmes range from one day to a couple of weeks. These can be virtual or face-to-face. Travel expenses are typically covered.
Volunteering
Voluntary roles refer to positions or responsibilities that are not paid and are undertaken by individuals on a voluntary basis. These must be for not-for-profit organisations and charities that rely on volunteers to carry out their activities.
Casual work
A part-time role carried out while at university. Non-career related roles that offer the candidate experience and a salary. Suitable for an undergraduate audience.
In promoting job vacancies to students and graduates, GTI actively follows UK employment legislation including National Minimum Wage requirements. We work with employers to ensure all content follows legal requirements and we reserve the right not to promote wherever we believe a vacancy contravenes these laws.
We recommend that all employers familiarise themselves with government guidelines available on the National Minimum Wage and exemptions.
To protect against the potential for indirect discrimination, GTI will not promote any opportunity specifying that candidates must have the right to work in the UK as part of the vacancy description or application process.
In compliance with section 16.67 of the Statutory Code of Practice for Employers accompanying the Equality Act 2010:
‘Eligibility to work in the UK should be verified in the final stages of the selection process rather than at the application stage, to make sure the appointment is based on merit alone and is not influenced by other factors […] Employers can, in some circumstances, apply for work permits and should not exclude potentially suitable candidates from the selection process.’
Any statements on this subject placed on adverts should be very carefully considered. If you feel that this is still necessary, our recommendation would be that ‘the successful candidate must have permission to work in the UK by the start of their employment’.
This has the merit of being factually true (as anyone working must have permission) without risking discrimination by refusing to accept applications from those who may need sponsorship as well as covering all the potential complexities arising from individual circumstances.
Organisations
GTI reserves the right not to promote:
Opportunity approval
While GTI will accept opportunities with a salary described as ‘Competitive’, many universities within the targetconnect Link network will not. Therefore, to avoid high levels of rejection at the point of opportunity distribution, we strongly encourage that all opportunities published include either an exact salary or salary range.
Payment related issues
GTI reserves the right not to promote:
Recruitment Agencies and Organisations Promoting Roles on Behalf of Their Customers – not disclosing the end hiring organisation
GTI reserves the right not to promote:
Organisation or Opportunity Suitability
GTI reserves the right not to promote:
Discriminatory language
GTI will not publish any information that contravenes the Equalities Act 2010 and which may prevent applications on the basis of protected characteristics. GTI may contact employers, where appropriate, to clarify wording and details of information provided, or to obtain reassurance of exemptions from equal opportunities legislation.
Examples of language that is deemed discriminatory:
Other legislation that must be adhered to:
For further information please see the full Terms and Conditions for targetconnect Link.
Further help
If you have any questions about the application of this policy, or would like support in using the platform, please contact the GTI team on +44 (0)1491 828903 or via email at targetconnectlink@groupgti.com.