With so many graduates and soon-to-be graduates on the scene, it is more important than ever to be prepared for a battle in the job market in order to win over potential future employers. We have gathered a range of hints and tips in an effort to help equip you and to give you the best possible chance of finding your ideal job.
1. Use your personality to further your career
There are many blogs and articles that cover what behaviours recruiters look for in future leaders, however, HR Director, Donna Miller takes that idea further to explore personal branding techniques. Pick up some important personal branding tips here.
2. Boost your Job Prospect While You’re At University
Make the most of your time at university and use all the resources that the university has to offer. From voluntary work, to joining a society, to a part-time job, or even organising charity events, make sure that you keep yourself busy throughout your time at university with activities that employers will value. Give your career prospects a boost by taking on some non-academic activities while at uni.
3. Don’t let social media shatter your job prospects
All students and graduates in guilty of the odd ‘Facebook stalking’ but if you think recruiters and employees don’t do the same you would be very wrong. Maybe you should think twice before you send that next Tweet. Pick up some tips on how not to pop your career options.
4. Could Twitter be your latest job searching tool?
‘Having a Twitter account is all well and good but can it highlight jobs and recruiters that are local to you?’ You betcha’ it can. How can you turn down a tool that lets you search for jobs and directly link you to the recruiter in charge? Pick up some basic Twitter tips here.
5. Cracking careers fairs
What is the best strategy for making a great impression at a career fair? Career Fairs are a tricky battlefield. There are hundreds of opponents in the room all trying to get the attention of the recruiters. This fantastic article itemises the tactics you should use to win over company representatives and also notes the innovative ideas you think may work in fact why they will repel the recruiter. Read here on how to take on the careers fairs and come out victorious.
6. Networking is a great way to build up your professional contact list
Networking can seem like a daunting task but networking events can be a fantastic way to undercover some upcoming graduate roles. The problem is, very few people know to act in these situations. All too often you’ll meet a person who is all too eager to sell themselves and forgets to create influencing conversations. Think it’s hard? Don’t fret – all you need to do is make a mental note of these 5 ways to start networking conversations, and make sure you use them!
7. What do hiring managers look for in your cover letter?
It goes without saying that a great cover letter will always grab the attention of a recruiter. ‘The best cover letters are customised for each and every unique job and company. This can be time-consuming but is a super successful technique for getting your cover letter read and into the interview pile.’ Discover 9 easy tips to making your cover letter stand out.
8. Yes, your email address really DOES count
It may seem like a minor detail but the wording in your email address is very important. You might have spent a great deal of time customising and refining your cover letter, but yourself in the recruiter’s shoes, would you invite a candidate to interview with an email address of partyanimal123@hotmail.org? Take a tip from Regina Van Bukleo on email address best practices.
9. Be great at interviews
Some say there is a real art to performing well in an interview. This short guide from Ashley Hever, Talent Acquisition Director, is complete with a variety of hints and tips and also covers what questions you should ask the recruiter at the end of an interview. Check out Ashley’s how to be great at interviews guide.
10. Act the part: role play-style interviews
Role play style interviews are becoming ever increasingly popular as a method to show how easily you can ‘act on your feet’ and to prove you have the right skills to perform the job role. This insightful blog entry from Leeds University tells the tale of Sophie, a recent graduate who was placed in a role-play scenario, however, fell into deep water when she realised she hadn’t done enough research into the role and started to wonder why she had even applied. Learn how to prepare yourself for a role play style interview.
11. Surviving competency and strengths-based interviews
‘This type of interview is by far the most common and is all about your skills. The key to success here is being confident about three key areas: you, the company to which you are applying and the wider sector in which you want to work.’ Prepare and practice for the most common of strength-based interviews.
12. Prepare yourself for an assessment centre
Picture the scene: you have just been invited to the assessment centre for your dream job and so you start searching Google, high and low for anything that you can find to prepare you for the day. The problem is, when preparing for assessment centres that there is a very real danger of over preparation. Don’t forget, the whole idea of assessment centres is for the recruiter to see how well you work with the rest of the group to achieve a common goal. But what about on the day itself? Fear not! Read our comprehensive guide on how to be great at assessment centres, and you’ll be in with a fighting chance.
13. Survive your first day
You have finally bagged your first job, congratulations! All you have left to do now is make sure you survive your first day in your new job. Everybody wants their first day to be perfect, but they seldom are. To give yourself the best possible chance of making a great first impression make sure you read through our tips on how to make the most of your first day. Make sure you leave behind your student clothes have a work wardrobe that reflects your personal brand and sticks to the dress code.
