10 Tips to your first graduate job success

As much as we all may want it to, our time at university can’t go on forever. At some point, you’re going to have to give some real thought to that most dreaded of questions: “so, what are you going to do after you leave university then?”. You’ve probably been asked this by everyone from your grandparents to the butcher down the road who’s known you since you were knee high to a grasshopper.

 

But how do you go about finding a job after you graduate? Well, below is a list of top tips to help you do just that.

 

Start Uploading Your Professional CV to Job Sites

This may seem obvious, but it really is the best place to start. Make sure your CV is up to date and has no spelling or grammatical mistakes. Then, make a profile on a job site of your choice and upload your CV to it. It’s a good idea to make a LinkedIn profile too if you haven’t already.  Please make sure that you do keep your online profile up to date as soon as you send your cv out, as clients will check!

 

Get in Touch with a Recruitment Agency that Specialises in Graduate Jobs

Recruitment agencies exist to help you find that dream job after university. There are a whole host of them that even specialise in graduate jobs and have those dream clients you would like to work for. Get in contact with them as soon as possible to get the ball rolling. It’s also a good idea to try and find a recruitment agency that is based in your area, if you’re looking for local jobs that is.

 

Fully Prepare Every Application to the Role

Don’t send out a general application for each job, employers will quickly be able to tell that it’s generic and you’ve not done your homework. It’s best to tweak your application so it’s specific for the job and position you’re applying to.

 

Ask your Connections about Job Opportunities

Throughout your time at university, you might have made friends who know people in the industry you’re interested in. You may even already know people who have jobs in the type of company you’d like to work in. It’s a good idea to get in contact with them and generally keep your ear to the ground so as soon as there are vacancies, you’re among the first to apply.

Keep Learning and Make Yourself More Employable

Finishing university doesn’t mean your education is over. You can still gain qualifications which will make you stand out to employers. This can involve taking an online course in something or gaining work experience somewhere.

 

Research the Company Before the Interview

Just like tailoring your application to each job, you should do some research prior to any interview. Going along to an interview with a good understanding of the company you’re hoping to work at will impress them!

 

Make Sure the Job is Right for You

Make sure you continue to research what jobs are out there. Don’t just go for the first place that catches your eye, a better job might be just around the corner. This doesn’t mean putting off taking a job just in case the perfect job arrives, but it does mean keeping an open mind and questioning whether or not you’d be happy or suited to a certain position before taking it.

 

Start a Hobby

Taking up a hobby is a great way to show employers that you’re enthusiastic about things other than your degree. It demonstrates that you’re a well-rounded person who can turn their hand to many things. Having a hobby is also a great way to unwind after a hard (and sometimes demoralising) day of job searching and interviews.

 

Keep Building Your Network

It’s important to carry on building your network even if you’ve already left university. Going along to career’s fairs, emailing people in the industry you want to break in to, and just keeping in touch with people from university are great ways to expand your chances of landing that dream job.

 

Stay Positive

Finally, stay positive! Job hunting can be gruelling, and you may find yourself coming tantalisingly close to landing a job, just to have it taken away from you at the last minute. It’s important to make sure that you stay motivated and keep trying in spite of however many times you may have received a rejection letter. Each time you fail, you can learn from that experience and try again. You may find that those previous rejections become a blessing in disguise when you end up with an offer to work at your dream company in a position that’s ideal for you.