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Posted in Candidates on Jun 07, 2011 by Richard Hayden
As a recent graduate it can be difficult to find your first full time position, but there are a few simple steps which can help to improve your chances of finding the right job for you.
The first thing to consider is which sector do you want to go into?
This is a difficult question to ask yourself but worthwhile investing the time in making sure you choose the right field. Consider all your options and research them thoroughly. This will ensure you choose a field that you are suited to and that you will enjoy in the long term.
Your first full time role can be a difficult transition to make from academia but it is vital that you choose the right role to develop your long term career prospects.
Your first role dependant on industry and specialism is likely to have a starting salary of between £13,000 - £15,000 per annum. This is a starting point and it is important to be realistic about your earning potential within your first 2 years of full time employment. The most important thing to consider is the opportunity to develop within a company and gain valuable experience rather than the initial salary package.
Once you have come to a decision about the sector you want to go into you need to tailor your CV with relevant experience and transferable skills for the roles you will be applying to.
For example if you have done a degree in English and wish to go into an office based position then highlight skills you have developed whilst studying such as attention to detail, accurate spelling & grammar, typing etc.
view related articles... CV, Cover Letter, References
Your first formal Interview can be a daunting experience but it needn’t be if you prepare.
view related articles... Interview Prep, Psychometric Testing
Once the interview has taken place you will often be given feedback either via a recruiter or directly. Feedback is constructive and should not be looked upon negatively. Use the information given to you to improve your next Interview experience and improve your chances of finding the right job and company for you.
Social Networking can be a great way to make contacts and find a job but it can also be a cause for alarm.
With this in mind keep your Social Networking under control and suitable for all eyes. For more tips and information regarding how to utilise social networking to your benefit please see our NetRep series of blogs.
view related articles... Online Reputation, NetReps, Is your NetRep working for you, Netwroking
As a candidate you want to make yourself as appealing as possible to potential employers, this means going that extra mile. There are many ways you can do this, you just need to get your thinking cap on & get creative.
One facility we offer candidates is a 3 minute video introduction using VortexVid. Decide upon 5 pre-prepared questions relating to either a specific role or that can highlight your unique skills and demonstrate your suitability for a position, and the company.
Once you have determined your questions and answers you can begin filming. This can be done using a phone, webcam or digital camera with a video capture facility. You don’t need to create an award winning video just concentrate on putting yourself across as an individual.
Things to Remember
Once you have made your video, show a few people and get their opinions. When you’re happy with it you can upload it to VortexVid, if you don’t have access to a facility like VortexVid consider using Youtube.
A video introduction will give your application another dimension, allowing you to become more than just another CV and make a great first impression.
view related articles... VortexVid
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Industry Sector
The first thing to consider is which sector do you want to go into?
This is a difficult question to ask yourself but worthwhile investing the time in making sure you choose the right field. Consider all your options and research them thoroughly. This will ensure you choose a field that you are suited to and that you will enjoy in the long term.
Prepare to Compromise
Your first full time role can be a difficult transition to make from academia but it is vital that you choose the right role to develop your long term career prospects.
Your first role dependant on industry and specialism is likely to have a starting salary of between £13,000 - £15,000 per annum. This is a starting point and it is important to be realistic about your earning potential within your first 2 years of full time employment. The most important thing to consider is the opportunity to develop within a company and gain valuable experience rather than the initial salary package.
CV
Once you have come to a decision about the sector you want to go into you need to tailor your CV with relevant experience and transferable skills for the roles you will be applying to.
For example if you have done a degree in English and wish to go into an office based position then highlight skills you have developed whilst studying such as attention to detail, accurate spelling & grammar, typing etc.
view related articles... CV, Cover Letter, References
Interview
Your first formal Interview can be a daunting experience but it needn’t be if you prepare.
- Research the company – this shows a genuine interest and enthusiasm.
- Dress Appropriately – Regardless of industry you should always attend interviews in business attire. For men this will usually mean a Trouser Suit, Shirt & Tie; for women, Skirt or Trouser Suit and a Smart Top or Shirt.
- One thing that is often overlooked is shoes; make sure they are clean / polished in a good state of ware and appropriate for the workplace (not shoes you would wear for a night out with friends).
view related articles... Interview Prep, Psychometric Testing
Feedback
Once the interview has taken place you will often be given feedback either via a recruiter or directly. Feedback is constructive and should not be looked upon negatively. Use the information given to you to improve your next Interview experience and improve your chances of finding the right job and company for you.
Other Things to Consider
Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
Social Networking can be a great way to make contacts and find a job but it can also be a cause for alarm.
- Recent surveys showed that 53% of businesses asked, research job candidates prior to making offers of employment
- Approximately 43% of businesses using these sites said that what they had seen had caused them not to hire the candidate.
- A further 12% of those surveyed plan to start using social networking sites in the coming year as a way of screening future employees.
With this in mind keep your Social Networking under control and suitable for all eyes. For more tips and information regarding how to utilise social networking to your benefit please see our NetRep series of blogs.
view related articles... Online Reputation, NetReps, Is your NetRep working for you, Netwroking
Stand out from the crowd
As a candidate you want to make yourself as appealing as possible to potential employers, this means going that extra mile. There are many ways you can do this, you just need to get your thinking cap on & get creative.
One facility we offer candidates is a 3 minute video introduction using VortexVid. Decide upon 5 pre-prepared questions relating to either a specific role or that can highlight your unique skills and demonstrate your suitability for a position, and the company.
Once you have determined your questions and answers you can begin filming. This can be done using a phone, webcam or digital camera with a video capture facility. You don’t need to create an award winning video just concentrate on putting yourself across as an individual.
Things to Remember
- Dress appropriately - this will be seen by potential employers and first impressions count.
- Location – try and film in a clean, clear area where you won’t have any distractions. You want to be the focus of the video, not someone walking around in the background.
- Composition – we would recommend that you video head & shoulders, unless you are applying for a job which involves presenting, in which case you may wish to demonstrate your presentation skills more fully.
Once you have made your video, show a few people and get their opinions. When you’re happy with it you can upload it to VortexVid, if you don’t have access to a facility like VortexVid consider using Youtube.
A video introduction will give your application another dimension, allowing you to become more than just another CV and make a great first impression.
view related articles... VortexVid
At Key Appointments we want to supply you with relevant and useful information, if there are topics you would like more information on then please email us at info@key-appointments.co.uk
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