Jobseeking...
1) Be flexible- You may have a very clear idea of what field you want to work in, and you might even know down to the specific job title you want to secure, but that 'r' word has come to cast a cloud over your best laid plans- meaning it might be tricky to slip into your ideal career straight away. Be prepared to look further afield, outside of your desired career if necessary, it doesn't have to be for long term but it will reward you with some experience and money. You can always change career paths- you're a shiny new graduate, you have years to settle into your dream job, and just because you don't start there doesn't mean you never will. So don't be afraid to divert away from the grand plan, if only in the short term.
2) Be... more flexible- Of course it's lovely to come home from uni and have your clothes washed and see a fully stocked fridge again; but being prepared to leave the nest for a second time might just secure you an amazing job. Why not cast your net a bit wider and consider other locations? Being unrestricted by location allows you to have your pick of the job vacancies, which also means you might not have to settle for a job outside of your desired field. A friend of mine spent most of last year despairing about his lack of post-graduation job prospects until he broadened his location horizons; he now no longer resides on the couch in front of diagnosis murder, he secured himself a great job in Dublin, with a pretty nice wage packet to match!
3) Smart interview clothes- check, CV- check, thick skin-...check?- Even before the media started frightening us with recession horror stories, jobseeking was no picnic. There's one job and there's certainly more than one applicant, so there are going to be disappointed candidates. Jobseeking isn't easy, you do get rejections; and it is heartbreaking. That one interview you managed to line up just didn't go to plan and you feel like screaming, crying and curling up into a ball all at once. Be resilient, be tough and be prepared for some knockbacks- people say it's character building, I say it's an unfortunate, crappy part of the jobseeking process, but eventually things will go your way. With enough determination and resilience- some interviewer somewhere will see your passion and know you are right for the job.
At Interview...
4) Be prepared- Ok so this isn't boy scouts but it is still a good motto. Doing your research pre-interview can help you get the edge on your competition. Research the company: their values, key clients, it's structure, etc and demonstrate your knowledge when asked. This will show enthusiasm and that you have put the time and effort into your interview preparation. Reading around common interview questions can also be helpful so that you don't get caught out by a tricky question. Long interview silences are something you should avoid experiencing at all costs.
5) Dazzle the employer with your attributes- You're fresh out of uni and although you've got tonnes of knowledge swimming around that brain of yours, you might not have the 'experience factor' which often leaves graduates feeling like they've earned a direct ticket to the bottom of the job pile- do not pass go, do not collect 100 pounds. The most important thing to remember is that everyone has to start somewhere. You may not have experience in the job role, but you do have an interview, which is the perfect opportunity to show off your enthusiasm, your drive, your flexibility and your commitment to learning the new skills that will help you succeed in the task at hand. Just because you don't currently possess the right skills doesn't mean you won't work damn hard to get them, so let that show at interview, and prove that the 'x factor' doesn't always win!
Congratulations...
6) Finally all of your resilience and hard work has paid off, landing you with the graduate's holy grail- a job!! ...But what if it's not ideal?
-You may have been offered a job in Central London, but you'd rather work in Surrey.
-You may have been offered a job that's in a completely different field than the career you want to pursue.
-You may have been offered a job that's at the very bottom of the corporate ladder.
-Or you may have been offered a job with a slightly lower wage than you'd hoped for.
BUT: Don't despair yet! Remember the old adage that a dog is for life and not just for christmas? Well the exact opposite is true for jobs! There is no harm in accepting a job that you may not see yourself doing long term. Times are tough and riding the recession may mean that you start in a job that isn't perfect. Any experience is better than none, and taking the job just might open your eyes to new prospects, things you hadn't considered before, and if nothing else will reaffirm that the 9-5 is the right choice for you.
Sarah@FreeMyCV
FreeMyCV.com's resident CV expert- The UK's free CV distribution service.
http://www.freemycv.com
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