Research and Rehearse for Interviews

One of the most commonly overlooked things we find with candidates at interview is the level of research they have made on the company. This is extremely important if you want to stand a chance in front of a potential employer. Treat it like an exam; make sure you know such things as common terminologies or abbreviations, the history of the company, their clients or target market and their aims as a company. Your knowledge in these areas will make the employer feel confident in your enthusiasm and genuine interest for the role. The best place to find this information is the company website. If they don't have one call them up before hand and ask them if they can send you some more information on the company.

Are your interests interesting on your CV?

How about investing some thought into the 'Interests' section of your CV? A few carefully written points about your activities outside of work can reflect a more rounded view of you as a candidate, and can even influence whether or not you are offered an interview for a graduate job. Hobbies like 'drinking' or 'socialising' are probably best avoided, whereas a few words about something you enjoy doing could make all the difference.

Organise Your Graduate Job Hunt

If you have just begun to look for a career then you must organise your job hunt! Once you start looking and applying for jobs, it can be hard to keep track of who you have contacted and what response you received. Take a thorough approach when making your applications. Log each company you approach in a spreadsheet, dating the entry and commenting on the status. It's also a good idea to keep copies of the letters and emails you send for your own reference.

References for your Graduate Job

Secure your references. Meet with professors, employers and others on-campus that you hope to use as a reference.  Be certain they are enthusiastic about doing so and understand what opportunities you seek and qualifications you possess.  Ask if they would be willing to give you an electronic copy of a letter of recommendation in the event you need to produce one on short notice.