GRADUATE GUIDE
When Finishing university It can feel like a scary time; your years in education are over, and lots of changes are taking place. Gone are the days of getting out of bed at 11am, or spending a grand total of two hours a day in lectures. For some, it might even mean moving back home. This period of transition means it can be difficult to start thinking about where you want to be in the future and how to effectively prepare for the job search ahead – but the sooner you get started, the better!.
Opalrange Recruitment Consultancy understand that job searching can be a stressful time, but there’s no need to worry; plenty of graduates find themselves in this position. With preparation, practise and proper use of online job searches, you’ll be able to secure yourself your first job as a graduate – here’s how to get started!
Work out what you want.
The first step to beginning your job search is working out what you want, and for some lucky ones this may not take very long. If your degree is specialised, or you already know the role you want to secure, you can begin your search right away. For those who are still deciding, take your time to think about what aspects of your degree you enjoyed the most; where do your interests lie? Are there are particular skills or areas of your degree you know you did well in? That’s the best place to start! It’s not necessary to have the exact job title you want, but a good idea of the sector is helpful.
Once you’ve settled on your chosen path, you can begin looking into jobs in that sector. We know it can be hard to choose a definitive career path, but having a clearer idea of what you want to do is going to help you during your search. Recruiters won’t want to see vague applications that show no enthusiasm or passion for the job, so choose an area of work you are (or know you would be) passionate about.
If You Have an idea of your ideal role will help you narrow down your Job search, but also don’t be afraid to make mistakes! The worry that many graduates have is that their first job is going to be their defining one – this is definitely not the case! If you’re lucky enough to fall into a role that you love, then great! But for those of you who don’t, you can learn from your mistakes and change your role in the future. Every job is experience, and undoubtedly you’ll learn something from every role you take on, even if the only thing you learn is that role or industry isn’t for you.
Get back into good routines.
After your dissertation and final projects the temptation to blow off some steam and enjoy your last summer as a student is too hard to resist – and that’s okay! You can give yourself a bit of leeway and time to relax before you jump straight into the real world. Graduation and summer celebrations can lead to a busy few months, so when it’s time to start the job search, you will need to readjust yourself to real life and getting back into a routine.
This can start with simple things like setting your alarm clock that bit earlier in the morning and making sure you start preparing your body for getting up at a reasonable time again. We know it can be tempting, but your first job search is probably not the best time to start a love affair with your Netflix account. Try to resist the devil on your shoulder that’s telling you to stay in bed all day, and dedicate a decent amount of time each day to looking for jobs, and brushing up your knowledge your chosen industry. You can also maximise your free time by perhaps taking on some voluntary work, or work experience. Alternatively you can always be learning new skills and looking for further training opportunities.
Clean up your online profiles.
Social media plays a big part in recruitment these days, and can be a useful tool for finding a job. But it can also harm your job search if you don’t monitor your profiles and use it carefully and effectively. Recruiters are increasingly using the internet to search for candidates before they offer them an interview, so they can get a better idea of what they’re like. Through social media you can build your own personal brand; this is the version of you that recruiters will see if they search for you – and obviously you want this to make a good impression!.
You can start your social media clean up by acting as if you were an outsider, and searching for yourself online. Look through the content on your current profiles, what does it say about you? Whilst the picture of you drunkenly wearing a traffic cone on your head might be hilarious, it’s not really the best impression to make on a recruiter. Change your relevant profile pictures to more sensible images and you can even make your profiles private to avoid anyone browsing your content in great detail if you don’t want them to.
If you haven’t already, you should join professional sites like LinkedIn to help you network and build up your personal brand as a working (or job hunting) professional. These sites also allow you to search for jobs and follow your favourite companies, so you can see their job vacancies as soon as they go live.
Work on your graduate CV and cover letters.You may have an old CV from years ago, or perhaps one you had to write at university. Now that you’ve got your degree it’s time to update your CV so you can begin applying for roles. As a recent graduate it’s quite possible you don’t have a lot of industry experience, unless of course you did some work experience at university or in your free time. If you do lack experience, you need to focus in greater detail on your degree and the skills you gained at university. If you do have experience make sure to give that equal weight, especially if it’s in a similar role to the one you’re applying for.
You have a degree now so don’t be afraid to flaunt it! If the majority of your skills and experience comes from your time in education, pick some of the most relevant modules and the skills you gained from these. You should do this for both your CVs and cover letters, tailoring each with the most relevant skills and information for the role. If you’re feeling stuck for ideas, why not check out our guides to writing the perfect CV and cover letter, to help get you started.
Tap into your network.
If you’ve previously done some work experience you may already have some contacts that can help you get a foot in the door. If you’ve had professional online profiles like LinkedIn for a while now, it’s also possible that you’ll have an online network of people and recruiters in your chosen industry. Don’t be afraid to use these resources! If you feel like your network could use strengthening, research some industry skill days or lectures by people with influence in the sector. These could give you a chance to network with professionals, as well as get some advice from the industry experts.
Begin looking for jobs.
So you’ve got your CV finalised, and you’ve got a good idea of your career path – now it’s time to begin applying for jobs! The important thing to remember when you begin searching is to search smart. Don’t just apply for every role you see in an attempt to secure a job quickly. Now is the time to really start building your career, so read each job description carefully and put thought into every application you write.
The best place to search is online, and job sites like ours are great places to start. Register your CV. Online sites also allow you to narrow down your search using criteria like location or salary. Be sure to keep a note of all the roles you apply for and stay organised, as this will help to make your search as effective as possible.
Helpful tips to keep in mind during your search.
Take your time – don’t rush just to get any old job. If you’ve set yourself a career path, take a bit more time and care to help you achieve your goals. Don’t just apply for anything and everything, check over each job description carefully and do some background research into each company.
All experience is good experience – so you were a waitress for two years and now you want to be a lawyer? Don’t put yourself down or believe that your previous jobs aren’t relevant – all experience is good experience. In every job you’ll gain new skills and knowledge of the workplace, so make reference to any transferable skills you have gained in previous roles (even if you don’t think the two roles relate).
It’s not all about big organisations – don’t be put off by a company just because it’s small or you’ve never heard of it. Research every company in full; you may find that a smaller company is actually more suited to what you want to do, or that they can offer you more training or support. Don’t keep chasing big companies just because you think the name is going to help you out in the future; you want to make the most of your first role, and sometimes bigger companies can’t offer you the same opportunity as a smaller one.
Ignore the news – as a graduate you’re susceptible to news stories or gossip about the value of your degree and whether or not it will help you get a job – don’t take these stories to heart! Focus on dedicating your energy to your search.
Don’t give up – the job market can be competitive and there may be times when you feel like you’re not getting anywhere – but don’t give up! Keep writing the best applications you possibly can and continue to gain new skills and build your network; you’ll get there in the end. If you can make it through your final year, you can do anything!.
Getting your first job after university is an exciting time (even if there are times when it can be stressful); your future is ahead of you and you’ll get back what you put in. You can keep your job search smart and as effective as possible, by utilising online searches and social media, and make sure to get your graduate CV and cover letter perfect at the start. Don’t look at leaving university as the end, look at it as the next chapter in achieving your dream career!.
And Always Remember,Our Consultants Are Always Here To Give You As Much Advice As Possible.
When Finishing university It can feel like a scary time; your years in education are over, and lots of changes are taking place. Gone are the days of getting out of bed at 11am, or spending a grand total of two hours a day in lectures. For some, it might even mean moving back home. This period of transition means it can be difficult to start thinking about where you want to be in the future and how to effectively prepare for the job search ahead – but the sooner you get started, the better!.
Opalrange Recruitment Consultancy understand that job searching can be a stressful time, but there’s no need to worry; plenty of graduates find themselves in this position. With preparation, practise and proper use of online job searches, you’ll be able to secure yourself your first job as a graduate – here’s how to get started!
Work out what you want.
The first step to beginning your job search is working out what you want, and for some lucky ones this may not take very long. If your degree is specialised, or you already know the role you want to secure, you can begin your search right away. For those who are still deciding, take your time to think about what aspects of your degree you enjoyed the most; where do your interests lie? Are there are particular skills or areas of your degree you know you did well in? That’s the best place to start! It’s not necessary to have the exact job title you want, but a good idea of the sector is helpful.
Once you’ve settled on your chosen path, you can begin looking into jobs in that sector. We know it can be hard to choose a definitive career path, but having a clearer idea of what you want to do is going to help you during your search. Recruiters won’t want to see vague applications that show no enthusiasm or passion for the job, so choose an area of work you are (or know you would be) passionate about.
If You Have an idea of your ideal role will help you narrow down your Job search, but also don’t be afraid to make mistakes! The worry that many graduates have is that their first job is going to be their defining one – this is definitely not the case! If you’re lucky enough to fall into a role that you love, then great! But for those of you who don’t, you can learn from your mistakes and change your role in the future. Every job is experience, and undoubtedly you’ll learn something from every role you take on, even if the only thing you learn is that role or industry isn’t for you.
Get back into good routines.
After your dissertation and final projects the temptation to blow off some steam and enjoy your last summer as a student is too hard to resist – and that’s okay! You can give yourself a bit of leeway and time to relax before you jump straight into the real world. Graduation and summer celebrations can lead to a busy few months, so when it’s time to start the job search, you will need to readjust yourself to real life and getting back into a routine.
This can start with simple things like setting your alarm clock that bit earlier in the morning and making sure you start preparing your body for getting up at a reasonable time again. We know it can be tempting, but your first job search is probably not the best time to start a love affair with your Netflix account. Try to resist the devil on your shoulder that’s telling you to stay in bed all day, and dedicate a decent amount of time each day to looking for jobs, and brushing up your knowledge your chosen industry. You can also maximise your free time by perhaps taking on some voluntary work, or work experience. Alternatively you can always be learning new skills and looking for further training opportunities.
Clean up your online profiles.
Social media plays a big part in recruitment these days, and can be a useful tool for finding a job. But it can also harm your job search if you don’t monitor your profiles and use it carefully and effectively. Recruiters are increasingly using the internet to search for candidates before they offer them an interview, so they can get a better idea of what they’re like. Through social media you can build your own personal brand; this is the version of you that recruiters will see if they search for you – and obviously you want this to make a good impression!.
You can start your social media clean up by acting as if you were an outsider, and searching for yourself online. Look through the content on your current profiles, what does it say about you? Whilst the picture of you drunkenly wearing a traffic cone on your head might be hilarious, it’s not really the best impression to make on a recruiter. Change your relevant profile pictures to more sensible images and you can even make your profiles private to avoid anyone browsing your content in great detail if you don’t want them to.
If you haven’t already, you should join professional sites like LinkedIn to help you network and build up your personal brand as a working (or job hunting) professional. These sites also allow you to search for jobs and follow your favourite companies, so you can see their job vacancies as soon as they go live.
Work on your graduate CV and cover letters.You may have an old CV from years ago, or perhaps one you had to write at university. Now that you’ve got your degree it’s time to update your CV so you can begin applying for roles. As a recent graduate it’s quite possible you don’t have a lot of industry experience, unless of course you did some work experience at university or in your free time. If you do lack experience, you need to focus in greater detail on your degree and the skills you gained at university. If you do have experience make sure to give that equal weight, especially if it’s in a similar role to the one you’re applying for.
You have a degree now so don’t be afraid to flaunt it! If the majority of your skills and experience comes from your time in education, pick some of the most relevant modules and the skills you gained from these. You should do this for both your CVs and cover letters, tailoring each with the most relevant skills and information for the role. If you’re feeling stuck for ideas, why not check out our guides to writing the perfect CV and cover letter, to help get you started.
Tap into your network.
If you’ve previously done some work experience you may already have some contacts that can help you get a foot in the door. If you’ve had professional online profiles like LinkedIn for a while now, it’s also possible that you’ll have an online network of people and recruiters in your chosen industry. Don’t be afraid to use these resources! If you feel like your network could use strengthening, research some industry skill days or lectures by people with influence in the sector. These could give you a chance to network with professionals, as well as get some advice from the industry experts.
Begin looking for jobs.
So you’ve got your CV finalised, and you’ve got a good idea of your career path – now it’s time to begin applying for jobs! The important thing to remember when you begin searching is to search smart. Don’t just apply for every role you see in an attempt to secure a job quickly. Now is the time to really start building your career, so read each job description carefully and put thought into every application you write.
The best place to search is online, and job sites like ours are great places to start. Register your CV. Online sites also allow you to narrow down your search using criteria like location or salary. Be sure to keep a note of all the roles you apply for and stay organised, as this will help to make your search as effective as possible.
Helpful tips to keep in mind during your search.
Take your time – don’t rush just to get any old job. If you’ve set yourself a career path, take a bit more time and care to help you achieve your goals. Don’t just apply for anything and everything, check over each job description carefully and do some background research into each company.
All experience is good experience – so you were a waitress for two years and now you want to be a lawyer? Don’t put yourself down or believe that your previous jobs aren’t relevant – all experience is good experience. In every job you’ll gain new skills and knowledge of the workplace, so make reference to any transferable skills you have gained in previous roles (even if you don’t think the two roles relate).
It’s not all about big organisations – don’t be put off by a company just because it’s small or you’ve never heard of it. Research every company in full; you may find that a smaller company is actually more suited to what you want to do, or that they can offer you more training or support. Don’t keep chasing big companies just because you think the name is going to help you out in the future; you want to make the most of your first role, and sometimes bigger companies can’t offer you the same opportunity as a smaller one.
Ignore the news – as a graduate you’re susceptible to news stories or gossip about the value of your degree and whether or not it will help you get a job – don’t take these stories to heart! Focus on dedicating your energy to your search.
Don’t give up – the job market can be competitive and there may be times when you feel like you’re not getting anywhere – but don’t give up! Keep writing the best applications you possibly can and continue to gain new skills and build your network; you’ll get there in the end. If you can make it through your final year, you can do anything!.
Getting your first job after university is an exciting time (even if there are times when it can be stressful); your future is ahead of you and you’ll get back what you put in. You can keep your job search smart and as effective as possible, by utilising online searches and social media, and make sure to get your graduate CV and cover letter perfect at the start. Don’t look at leaving university as the end, look at it as the next chapter in achieving your dream career!.
And Always Remember,Our Consultants Are Always Here To Give You As Much Advice As Possible.