If you were studying or graduating during lockdown, a huge congratulations to you! With the added pressure and less physical support, the last few months have been a struggle for everyone. With the current economy in crisis and businesses making cuts more than ever, many students are worried about securing employment living in the effects of a pandemic. But do not panic, there are plenty employers still hiring and things are on the up as restrictions continue to lift. Here are a few of our tips to give you the best chance at securing that all important grad job:
1. Ensure your CV is perfect. Take extra care and time when working on your CV, make sure it showcases all of your skills, abilities, and achievements, letting the employer know why you’re suited for the role – and ultimately, why it should be you who secures the job. Remember, this is the very first thing employers will see, so make sure it’s a strong and accurate representation!
2. Use your spare time to brush up on your skills. Online courses can be a great way to add to your CV and a lot are free! See if there are any new accounts you can follow within your industry and join pages/groups that can help with industry news and advice, keeping you in the know and developing commercial awareness – something employers will love to see!
3. Follow up on applications. It’s absolutely fine to drop a follow up email about the status of your application. However, be sure to be polite and understanding – patience is a virtue.
4. Contact businesses in your local area. Just because they aren’t advertising, doesn’t mean they aren’t hiring. Try building a list of local employers that you could work for/in your industry and send them an email or drop a quick call to see if they have any opportunities. Employers can be impressed by your initiative and invite you for an interview, even if they weren’t expecting to hire anyone. You never know what you could come across.
5. Prepare for video interviews. Many companies are still working from home, whilst some already used video as a screening process. They have their pros and cons, so try a few practice rounds to get yourself familiar with the situation.
6. Join job sites. Goes without saying but don’t give up in your hunt!
7. Don’t lose motivation. An important one, there’s always something amazing waiting right around the corner, so don’t get disheartened if you’re struggling, your time will come!
8. Use any unsuccessful interviews as a learning curve. Sometimes it happens, don’t take these situations as a negative and focus on what you can learn from them. Feel free to ask the employer what areas they felt you could work on and use this to your advantage for the next interview you secure! Practice makes perfect.
9. Dive into any opportunity. Although something may not be what you had your heart set on, it’ll still be good experience for you and employers will appreciate that you’ve got stuck in to different situations. You can carry your search for your dream role whilst gaining other experience (and maybe making money).
Good luck in your search! We’re sure you’re going to smash it.
