Newly qualifieds without relevant City experience can ask for £10,000 more than last year.

A survey from recruiters Poolia indicates more employers are feeling forced to take on those looking for their first step into investment banking and investment management.

'The trend is most common for product control, regulatory reporting and technical roles,' says Tom Cunningham, Poolia's banking team leader. 'Newly qualifieds who'd have expected £45,000 a year ago can demand £55,000 - even with no product knowledge or City experience. And if otherwise they're outstanding candidates - with good exam passes and top communication skills - then they're getting it. It may represent taking a chance for the bank - but there's more at stake by allowing vacancies to remain unfilled as financial support for business growth would suffer.'

Benefits packages - normally universal at newly and recently qualified levels - are now more likely to be tweaked to suit individual work-life balance needs: 'Some candidates, for instance, would rather negotiate a shorter eligibility period for sabbaticals than, say, membership of a corporate gym,' says Cunningham. 'Others may request more flexibility in their working arrangements, such as a greater element of home-working or more tailored hours.'

But that's sometimes still not enough to secure acceptance of offers. Despite bending over backwards and taking something of a risk, banks must endeavour to fast-track recruitment procedures faster than their competitors. 'It's critical that candidates aren't kept hanging around,' says Cunningham: 'A bespoke package will lose its appeal if the offer takes a fortnight to get rubber-stamped by HR.'