Tackling Gaps On Your CV

CVs must be watertight and there is no space for inconsistence. If after a quick scan the recruiter thinks you have potential for a role, often the next step will be to chronologically study your past work and education. Gaps in your CV in these areas are one of the first things they will home in on - make sure you either explain what happened in the gaps within your CV or have ready formed answers when you are asked at telephone or first interview. There are many legitimate reasons for these potential gaps such as family matters, illness or most commonly job searching - employers are very understanding of this situation after the past job climate so be honest and sincere. Lastly make sure you present any issues in a positive light by finishing your explanation on a high such as how you resolved it or how you plan to resolve it.

Non-Verbal Communication at Graduate Interviews

When speaking face to face it’s said that over 90% of communication is non-verbal so before an interview, ensure you develop an awareness for what your body language subliminally says about you. Your body language should convey composure and confidence without being brash.  Ensure you make good eye contact and your handshakes are firm and clear and avoid excessive giggling, fiddling and jittering.  If you feel your body language is not yet up to scratch, you can improve this by focusing on your outlook, identifying and embracing your strengths and feeling confident that you are knowledgeable in your interviewer’s values and ethics.  Overall, your body language should mimic an eager, confident and determined ‘can-do’ attitude without appearing arrogant. Lastly, your interview attire and physical appearance must be professional, smart and current, avoiding anything overpowering or too glitzy!

Flexibility In Your Jobsearch

Being flexible in your graduate job search can massively increase your chances of finding graduate work - don't be dismissive of sectors before you really understand what they can offer from first-hand research. While you may have studied something very specific it's important to understand where other opportunities might lead to in the future. Perhaps you want to work in marketing, so break down the aspects of the role such as research, copy-writing or media planning and look for different jobs in those fields in order to gain insight and experience. Maybe you want to work as a Journalist but are having no success so why not consider looking at other office based roles within publishing so you can begin to work and learn within the industry. The path your career follows may have many twists and turns before ending in the place you want to be. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Important Calls and Phone Interviews

If you have recently applied for a job, be aware that a call from an unrecognised number could be a preliminary screening - don’t ignore it or in particularly answer in a blunt or casual tone as it could determine the success of your application. A phone-based graduate interview is considered as important as a face to face interview.  Therefore, preparation is key. Ensure that you are not in a noisy environment such as a pub and have your CV handy to answer unexpected questions.  If you are out and it is not convenient, politely ask whether it would be possible to be contacted at an alternative time.  In the event that you do miss the call, ensure you have a professional voicemail set up for the employer to leave a message.  When speaking to an employer on the phone, have a polite phone manner, speak slowly and enunciate clearly always aiming to convey the same level of dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism as you would if you were meeting in person.