The number of vacancies for graduates has increased by 17% in 2014, with strong growth in financial services, according to research by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR).

The AGR Graduate Recruitment Summer Survey 2014 is based on replies from almost 200 graduate recruiters across 17 sectors. It suggests graduate vacancies in the financial services sector have increased by 54% this year.Transport and logistics is the sector that is reporting the next largest increase (29%), while opportunities in the public sector rose by 19%.

The annual starting salaries for new graduates are also increasing in 2014. The median is up by £500 to £27,000. The financial services sector offered the highest financial rewards, with an average starting salary of £43,500.

AGR chief executive Stephen Isherwood told HR magazine the figures show a return to strength for the graduate market. He did, however, stress that this does not translate to the market being an easy one for graduates.

"I’d urge anyone looking for a graduate position to really do their homework and make sure their application is as strong as it can be," he said. "Graduate employment is a two-way street and both employers and graduates need to make sure that their targeting is effective."

Make sure your application is as strong as it can be by reading our five Key Tips below:

Tip 1 - Consider alternate routes to employment other than Blue Chip companies. The UK SME market is booming!

Tip 2 - Volunteer where you can and be generous with your time – if you are unemployed your new full time job is finding work

Tip 3 - Make a list of your personal strengths and focus on those attributes when applying for a job

Tip 4 - Being ambitious is a good quality but try and learn as much as you can at grass roots level before moving onwards and upwards

Tip 5 - Think longer term – where would you like to be in 5 years? Sculpt your own career path to get you where you want to be

See more at: http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1145546/graduate-vacancies-2014#sthash.j3ITFU4u.dpuf