It still feels like yesterday that I was celebrating my own Graduation, waking up the next morning feeling… No not hungover, unsure about what exactly was next.
Looking back, I put this feeling down to reality striking, I wasn't on a break for a few weeks, this was it. I was entering unchartered territory; and beginning a new challenge. What my friends at university referred to as gaining a graduate position, I refered to as Mission Impossible – Graduate Protocol.
But don’t fear! Here are 10 tips, based off my experiences that will work wonders for your graduate job hunt.
- Start early
My single regret from university was not doing this. So trust me, be proactive in your job hunt. Take into consideration the competiveness of entry-level positions; and follow the next nine steps sooner rather than later.
- Gain Experience
Actively seek work experience and every little bit of exposure to the industry and its professionals (networking ofcourse). Students who take the time to volunteer/intern often have far more successful job searches, as this shows an employer they are passionate about their industry
- Utilise University Services
All universities offer career services and career advice, register for these free services and follow their guidance. If not, seek professional help and advice the moment you feel lost.
- Polished Resume
Before you even think about applying for your dream jobs, take a moment to review and perfect your resume. There is no point in devoting hours to job searching and completing applications if your resume is below par.
- Careers Fair
Sounds boring and not useful, right? Sure that was my opinion too, until I finally got dragged to one and realised the HUGE networking potential. Try the Melbourne Career Expo in July 2015.
- Social Media
53% of hiring managers check candidates’ social media pages, so clean up your social media accounts and remove any untoward content. LinkedIn has great potential for job seekers, check out “5 ways LinkedIn can work for you on your job hunt”.
- Expressions of Interest
GradConnection and Gradopportunities are both fantastic resources for students to review upcoming graduate programs, closing dates and submit applications. The problem is every student knows about these websites, meaning these graduate programs receive the most applications from across all of Australia. I'm not suggesting you shouldn't apply for them but don’t limit your job search to just here. Submit expressions of interests to the companies you are passionate about, even if a position isn’t advertised, organisations are always looking to invest in top talent.
- Think Competencies
When submitting applications, emphasise your core competencies that enable you better than anyone to fulfil the responsibilities of a job properly. Competencies often aren’t trainable like skills, so meeting all key criterion is often more valuable to recruiters.
- Quality over Quantity
Instead of submitting 100’s of generic job applications, for every single position that seems even remotely close to entry level, focus on quality. Submit 3-4 applications a week rather than 20, but customise the application to the organisation and their key evaluative criteria. You will be able to better manage your applications this way, as well have a greater return on your time.
- Don’t be afraid of rejection
An important thing to understand is it is okay to be rejected by organisations, whether it is timing, lack of skills or experience. A new opportunity opens every single day and the right job for you will be the one you secure.
If this article didn’t completely satisfy your needs as a graduate, follow us across social media for advice and even some humour.