Graduate recruitment
It can take time to get something you're happy with once you've graduated, so make sure you've got a few tricks up your sleeve with our graduate guide.
Finding a job
The first and most obvious step is to pinpoint the area you'd like to work in. If you have a clear idea gather information on this career and begin your search by:
- Visiting your careers advisor - even though you have graduated, your uni's career centre is still open to you, so take advantage and use it.
- Searching in national, regional and local papers - many papers have days for specific career areas so keep an eye out.
- Looking at industry papers/journals - keep up-to-date with industry news as well as checking listed vacancies.
- Searching the internet - for recruitment and graduate sites specific to your chosen industry.
- Registering with recruitment agencies - they'll know about jobs that aren't advertised and help you improve your CV.
- Using your contacts - tell friends and family you are looking for work - you never know who they might know.
Naeema Pasha, an eCareers consultant with Prospects and deputy director of Reading University Careers Service, suggests Prospects' services. "Prospects offers careers guidance via email and a CV checking service where graduates can complete an online CV and get feedback from a careers adviser," she says. "Many universities also offer a service for graduates who live in the area, even if you studied somewhere else. Talk to your nearest uni to find out what's available in your area."
"It can take a while for many new graduates to get into their first good job," Naeema continues. "The key to success is planning, knowing what you're aiming for and what your final destination is."
Of course, it will take some people longer than others to find work, depending on who they are and what opening they're after, but many graduates spend anything from a few weeks to a year.
If you do find that you are in the situation where you have been job-hunting for a significant length of time with no luck, here's how you can improve your chances:
Get another job
It might not be what you want to do for the rest of your life but you can earn money while you are looking and gain new skills at the same time. For example, get admin temping work if you want an office-based career.
I don't just think work experience is valuable, it's essential. It's a great way to gain contacts and future job references
Work experience
Whatever sector you are aiming for, work experience will be an asset. It proves your dedication and commitment to potential employers and shows you already have a basic idea of what the job entails.
Sarah Peters found work experience to be very rewarding. "I don't just think work experience is valuable, it's essential. It's a great way to gain contacts and future job references," she enthuses. "If you prove yourself to be helpful and friendly then it'll help break the ice and get people noticing you. If you finish a piece of work, ask if you can get any more to do. Above all, try your very best to enjoy it," she says.
Sarah's experience of being a 'workie' is a very positive one; she was recommended by staff at her placement for a position at a similar company, a job she would never have known about in other circumstances. She has now moved through two different positions to get into her present role as an assistant editor.
Review your CV
It may mean that your CV needs updating or boosting to its full potential. "What skills, abilities and experience do you have? Are you effectively selling them on your CV?" asks Naeema. "Get other people to have a look at it with a critical eye." She also suggests you do the following to improve your chances of success:
- Know yourself - do a skills audit. What exactly are you offering? Know the occupation you are going for - and the skills and qualities needed for the role. Doing this means you can think of examples to give on your CV as well as interview;
- Know the company - you should always know more about them than they have already told you in the job ad. Look at company reports and their website;
- Know about the sector in which the employer operates. So, for example, think about competitor companies of your potential employer.
Further study?
Think about how you will benefit from more study. If you can't come up with a good enough answer then you may need to think about whether it's the best option for you at this time. For some careers you may have to study to a certain level to ensure a job in the future.
For other careers it may help to gain the relevant skills from an evening or part-time course. Many people go on to further study purely because they enjoy the subject and want to gain even more knowledge about it.
Just make sure you're enrolling for the right reasons - Naeema warns that if you're thinking of doing a postgraduate course to put off job-hunting for another year you might find yourself in the same position when you finish, only slightly poorer.
Written by Sarah Willoughby
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