If you’re a recent university graduate currently pursuing meaningful employment, we’re here to help. These are our top tips for securing the ideal job at this exciting moment.
1. Set up a LinkedIn account
In addition to your education qualifications, your LinkedIn page should include any noteworthy achievements and life experience that you have. Ensure that your profile photo looks professional and that your ‘about’ section includes relevant contact information.
2. Update and adapt your CV
Potential employers will most likely read your resume before they decide whether to meet with you, so you want to make the best possible impression. It’s important to pay close attention to the content and look of your CV, ensuring that it’s up to date, relevant and presentable. Be sure to remove any grammatical errors and formatting issues. Make sure that your references are still contactable. If you feel you need help getting your resume to stand out, it’s worth considering paying for expert assistance with it.
It’s also a good idea to adapt your CV every time you send it out so that you are tailoring it to each particular role you’re applying for. This also applies when you’re addressing prospective employers. If possible, try to find out the name of the person you are applying to rather than using a generic ‘to whom it may concern’.
3. Determine which type of workplace appeals to you
Think about the kind of jobs you might be eligible for and the type of workplace that appeals to you. Some graduates are qualified in more specialised professions than others but regardless, there is always a diverse range of opportunities out there. Here’s a handful of examples of the kinds of workplaces you might consider:
- Consulting
- Education
- Finance
- Government
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Marketing
- NGO
4. Research companies in your field
Once you’ve identified the workplaces you are drawn to and qualified for, you can narrow in and research specific companies. Their websites should have a career section with information about any current job opportunities and often feature a graduate portal for you to submit your details.
5. Search for jobs advertised as graduate-specific
When searching for roles on job advertising platforms like Seek, the temptation might be to apply for the most well paid and exciting roles you see. However, it’s important to be realistic about your qualifications and experience level. Your search for work will become demoralising pretty fast if you are applying for jobs that are out of your league. Start out by using graduate-specific filters in your job search. Once you’ve exhausted this search avenue, then you could expand your looking to include roles that are a bit beyond your current qualification and/or experience level.
6. Check if recruiters are actively advertising for graduate roles
Have a look and see which recruiting companies are active in your chosen field. If you find that these recruiters are advertising for graduate-roles in your area of interest, then it’s a great opportunity to apply. However, it’s important to remember you probably don’t need to use recruiters for this stage of your career, if there’s no indication that they’re approaching graduates.
7. Be prepared
Once you start receiving responses from employers, it’s important to be courteous, professional and as flexible as possible when liaising with them. If you’re successful in lining up an interview, then it’s imperative that you’ve done your research on the company you wish to work at.
Look up and practice answering the most common potential interview questions, such as where do you see yourself in five years? This will help you feel more relaxed. When you’re being interviewed, you’ll need to be amiable, interested and knowledgeable. Be sure to demonstrate your awareness of and interest in the company. Ask questions.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence
You’ve got to be resilient and persistent. It’s a competitive job market and as a graduate, you’re not going to have the same positions available to you as someone who is more experienced and/or qualified in your field. Nevertheless, there are still many opportunities for graduates out there and you’ve got to be persistent. It’s important that you continually apply for jobs that interest you and in areas where you’re capable. Inevitably, you’re going to experience rejections, so be strong and don’t let it deter you from your end goal. With persistence and all of the above preparation, you’re bound to succeed in time.