Show You're a Digital Native

Grad Guide Blog founder, Chris Hall gives this weeks tip:

Being "digital natives", we should really take advantage of growing up with new technologies and understanding them. At the top of your CV add your Twitter username, Blog page address and Linked In profile - this shows employers your online presence. It also shows them your savvy enough to be up to date with technology, and gives them further information about you that a CV may not. Employers are going to Google you, so take one step forward and give them the information so they can find out more about you.

For more tips, and the latest graduate advice and discussion, visit the gradguideblog.com

Thinking Outside of the Box

There are a plethora of opportunities out there in the big wide world but finding the right one is key to lifting off into a successful career post-university. Applying to every single vacancy that fit your description on the basic level is not really ideal, both for yourself (it’s very exhausting to churn out hundreds of quality applications a day) and for the companies you’re applying to (the company that you’ve applied to both the buying and the finance scheme to will be a bit confused as to your motives and ambitions). Below are a few suggestions of how you can think outside the box, but at the same time be a little more specific as to what you’re applying to.

Firstly, use the alumni service at your university, there may be useful contacts that you can perhaps contact by email or arrange a coffee on campus with to discuss what they have done with their careers. Try finding members of the alumni who have studied the same degree as you, been part of the same societies or have had the same work experience with you, something key in common.

Secondly, discussion boards on social media sites are grossly underused, for example, twitter have a discussion group called ‘Hire Friday’ under #HFChat, which is of great use if you want to hear suggestions and hear other peoples stories, a key destination for job seekers.

Thirdly, if you’ve been applying to some opportunities based on your work experience and others based on your degree, combining the two elements of your application could stand you in good stead for something you haven’t necessarily thought of before.
For more alternative ways to conduct an alternative job search, follow the link: www.grb.uk.com/hidden-job-market

How To Deal With Deadlines

Deadlines can range in importance as we all go through life, from exam deadlines, to deadlines for essays and applications at university, or presentation deadlines in landing a big client when you’re in the workforce. Here are 3 simple tips that should help to change your approach to meeting a deadline from day one.

Firstly, get organised. As obvious as it sounds, organisation is key, get a diary or write notes on a calendar. Whether it’s going to be one big deadline or a few medium sized ones, it’s important to know when they are and how long you have to spread the work load and reach the date.

Secondly, use the wise words Aesop in the fable of the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady does win the race. It’s a lot healthier to spread the workload over the week, two week or month long period you have been given to complete the task, this way the task won’t feel as intimidating. Essay deadline? You may find yourself reading and learning more about the subject you’re writing about, giving you time to get more interested in it. Application? You’ll be giving yourself more time to think about the answers and paint a truer picture of who you are within the confines of the typical application format. Presentation? Practice does indeed make perfect.

Finally, if you find it difficult to meet deadlines, treat yourself for reaching certain points. Set a goal, achieve the goal, get you’re treat; and it’s as simple as that.

Always Proofread

As we write this we are sure many graduates are sending off numerous job applications and CV’s to potential employers. But are they perfect? When sending out numerous applications it is very easy to make little mistakes that go undetected by you but can cause you to be screened out of the process.

Important things to check are you email address and mobile number, if you have these wrong you aren’t contactable in the first instance. May sound silly? It does happen, numbers get typed incorrectly and email addresses change without being replaced.

Also ensure the dates on your CV are all correct and concise. Even if this is wrong but doesn’t give a bad impression, if the mistake is misleading and this comes up in an interview it will be an issue and make your eye for detail seem weak.

Finally, remember to check spelling and grammar in every instance; cover letters, CV’s, Thank you notes etc. Ask family members and/or friends to proof read them; they will bring a fresh pair of eyes and pick up on errors that you will miss, preventing you missing out on job opportunities.

Is Your CV Up To Scratch?

With the incredibly high volume of applications received by graduate employers and recruiters alike, the presentation and content of your CV is of the upmost importance. Here are some simple things you can do to ensure your CV doesn’t ruin your chances at that dream role.

Ensure all your personal and contact information is clear and correct. Make sure you have included an up to date mobile number, a home number (if applicable) and email address, and that you have written them correctly. If you miss numbers or use an old university email address then you are not contactable.
Provide all information clearly in sections and make sure elements are shown in reverse chronological order and that this is kept consistent throughout your CV.

Declare your A level or equivalent results, not just subjects studied or they may be assumed to not meet the requirements. Also provide a predicted final grade (or actual grade if already achieved) for your degree, along with a couple relevant module results.

Finally, avoid paragraphs and mini essays of information within your CV. These days it is so important that potential employers can recognise your achievements, both academic and extra curricular, quickly. If you have provided this within a half a page of writing it isn’t clear and won’t show you off to your full potential.

For more information on CV’s please refer to our CV guide: http://www.grb.uk.com/cv_makeover.0.html

Never Lie On Your Graduate CV

When applying to those all important graduate jobs you want to give yourself the best possible chance of getting an interview. When we look at graduate CV examples, we are looking for honesty, embellishing the truth only makes things a lot trickier when it comes to interviews.

It doesn’t look good if your response is inconsistent when graduate recruiters ask you about something stated on your CV and this will definitely not lead to a job offer. Never mind the negative effect on your job hunt; it is an offence to lie on a CV. It’s not worth it, use the real stuff and you’ll go far.

Sit down and think carefully about everything you have got involved with and all the different experiences you have had that you can use as references in your CV and later on in an interview, there will be plenty of topics for you to discuss without having to lie.

Is Your Graduate Job Application Holding You Back?

We know what it’s like, so many amazing graduate jobs and applications being fired in all directions. But are you getting complacent? You may be applying to loads of graduate vacancies but don’t forget that many other graduates are doing the same.

Keep a list of who you have applied to and what job was with whom; have a folder of the graduate job specifications too. Having this knowledge to hand when the phone goes will save you having to ask what the job was, help you be prepared and make you seem super keen on that role.

Quality over quantity really does ring true; spend as much time on an application form as needed to make it perfect. Tailor each cover letter and CV ensuring no hints of different applications remain. Stating a different company name, the wrong job title/reference or irrelevant skills will negatively affect your chances of an interview. Also, read a job specification thoroughly for the name of the person you are applying to, use it and make sure you spell it right, getting this wrong doesn’t set a good impression of your attention to detail.

Cover Letters That Deliver

Cover letters are an increasingly important way of painting a well-tuned picture of yourself and why you are perfect for a role. Think of it as a movie trailer to your profile; you need the key points to stand out and be memorable, it needs to read in a clear, concise order and leave them wanting more. Looking at the two ends of the spectrum, never write a whole page detailing your life in text-heavy paragraphs and never write two sentences just saying that you think you are good for the job and your CV is attached - that’s not a covering letter!  You need to be looking at 200-300 words that get straight to the requirements listed in the job description. Be friendly, but no casual language or excess exclamation marks. Always use professional openings that address a name if one is present and signatures that include your contact details.

Hobbies and Interests on Your CV

Remember, if you choose to include a section on hobbies and interests on your CV for gradute jobs, it can be a massive employer turn-off to use generic content such as ‘I like music’ or ‘I like reading and going to the cinema’. Points like those bring nothing to your CV and instead can actually paint quite an unimaginative picture of yourself. What this section is really about is a chance to show off any interests that extend from work into your own life which truly shows that your passion and progression as a professional doesn’t stop at 5:30pm every day! For example, say you want to work in Marketing so in your spare time you run a society’s social media or build/design websites. Perhaps you are trying to get into Finance so in the evenings you dabble with a fantasy Forex account or you want to work as a journalist so you write for a blog. The possibilities are endless in the way you can express your genuine interest in a subject so always try and benchmark your hobbies and interests on valuable points that the employer will take note of.

The Cover Letters That Get Read

Your covering letter is your chance to deliver in a brief but essentially detailed manner, why you are perfect for the role. Customisation is key, never use generic text and aim to hit a minimum of 200 and a maximum of 400 words. Always open with a Dear ‘Recruiters Name’; only if you have no way of knowing their name it is then ok to use Dear Sir/Madam. The first part is your opening which must refer to the job title, portray your enthusiasm, and provide solid examples as to why you are sending your application. Next, it’s time for the main body of your letter, which should include points that refer to the evidence on your CV that proves your suitability - bullet points can really help the recruiter pick up on the important elements. Following this, demonstrate something you know about the company or specific job requirements that inspired you to apply, as compliments never go amiss here too! This shows you’ve put time into researching them and that you possess a genuine interest in not just the role but the company too. The final part is the close – this should be done by summarising what you have covered, making it clear that you are available to provide any further information and that you’re looking forward to hearing back. End with a Best regards, your full name, contact details (mobile, email and LinkedIn profile link) and confirmation of the documents attached with the application e.g. your CV title.

The Twenty Second CV Scan

Ensure that your CV is getting the right information across in that all important employer 'twenty second screening scan' by pre-testing this yourself.  Before sending your CV out for graduate jobs, give it to five individuals to scan for no more than twenty seconds. Avoid friends or close acquaintances as they may already be aware of your background. Immediately after, ask them what they can remember from your CV from the top of their head instinctively.  Note their observations and review them closely considering the job you are using the CV for. If the memorable aspects of your CV match the requirements for the role then you know your CV is correct. If not, you can now tailor and re-adjust it accordingly, using the twenty second scan as you go along to make improvements.

Making An Instant Impression with your Graduate CV

It’s essential that your CV for graduate jobs makes an instant impact in less than a minute so how can you be sure you’re achieving this? In order of priority are: Accuracy of information: all employment history details such as names, locations and dates should be accurate and honest! Spelling and grammar: ensure all your content is proof read and exempt of spelling and grammatical errors. Detailed work history: aim to include a comprehensive yet concise work history, ensuring any gaps are justified.  Layout: be economical with your content - making your CV longer than two pages could be detrimental.  Ensure that all content is clearly labelled and is easy to navigate. Using bullet points to list duties, responsibilities and achievements improves legibility and navigation. A confusing CV will very rarely withstand a potential employer’s patience!

How Customised is Your CV?

Every graduate job you apply to should have its very own customised CV that pin-points the job requirements for that role. When swept up in a wave of sending multiple frantic applications, so many candidates fall short on this and it really shows. Make sure you’re delivering quality, not quantity. One good technique is to read over the job specification several times, create a list of five or so key qualities they look for and then go about re-arranging the content of your CV to cover/highlight them. Talk more in-depth on the important areas and less on the irrelevant ones to save space, making new sections or even bolding some key words if needed. Use the same terminology as the job specification and do some internet research to brush up on any areas you don’t understand – the last thing you want is to get caught out talking the talk but not walking the walk! As time passes you will soon have a customised CV for most job requirements that only needs minor tweaking, saving you a lot of time. Make sure you re-name them so you don’t get confused and definitely re-name again to a generic name before you send.

What Not To Put On A CV

When applying for graduate jobs, your CV should be a positive reflection on the time, effort and dedication invested into acquiring the relevant skills for the job. Including certain things in your CV can overshadow these valuable and hard-earned skills and create an instant unsuitable profile. Relevance is a key element here, therefore any experience or personal attributes that would be deemed irrelevant for the job should be carefully considered and extremely brief or ideally, excluded. This also applies when listing qualifications. Be economical with the space you have; give priority to the highest level (a-levels and above), and if listing GCSE’s or equivalents, abstain from listing each subject and grade individually. Avoid listing generic hobbies such as reading/going to the cinema as these are over used and fail to show originality. Try to use hobbies relevant to the job and/or convey dedication and integrity. Another detail to consider is your address. If you are applying to a role that’s far away, even with the intent to re-locate, it’s sometimes best to keep your current location anonymous until you have had a chance to impress. A CV showing an address at a considerable distance from the workplace could disconcert an employer.

And lastly no silly email addresses!

Ensuring your CV is looked at

When creating a CV, make sure you save it in a versatile format that everyone is able to open. We would recommend saving it in document format which is .doc as it's the most common. Saving your CV in this format means you can be sure no one will have any problems opening it or integrating it with a database that employers can search - using .pdf files can create problems. Additionally, make sure you name your CVs sensibly like 'John Smith CV - Marketing.doc' so the employer knows whose it is among others. Never leave the file name of your CV unlabelled such as 'my final cv.doc' or 'cv edit3.doc' as this looks very unprofessional.

Your Graduate CV Guide Part 2

Last week we told you how to introduce your CV with an opening statement and your education history. This week we are covering how to present the rest of your CV starting with your work experience. List the jobs that you have had starting with the most recent, including the job role, employer name and a brief outline of your main responsibilities along with accurate dates. Be prepared to explain any gaps in employment and anything that is not relevant to the role you are applying for needs to be kept very brief with just a line or two explaining what you did during this time. Bullet points are the best way to display this information on your CV.

The next section should be a summary of your achievements and skills, list any extra curricular activities including your hobbies, but make sure you can justify how they make you a more interesting person. Relate them to the job specification and the company's requirements wherever possible. You should also include extra qualifications, awards and training plus any positions of responsibility within societies.

Lastly you should note that your references are available on request so when you come to this stage you are able to provide up to date and appropriate references.

Your Graduate CV Guide Part 1

We can't stress enough how important it is that your CV is serving its purpose effectively so over the next two Tip of the Week's we will be covering the best way to present it and what information to include.

It's true that employers will make a judgment on your suitability within the first 30 seconds of looking at your CV, so make sure it accomplishes the following: Start with your name and contact details and consider an opening statement of no more than 2-3 sentences to outline your career ambitions. Be sure to customise this to the job you are applying for so you stand out as a perfect candidate. List any important references to yourself such as your blog, if you write one, your website or your professional social media profiles such as LinkedIn. You could include a photo to add a touch of personality but this is not compulsory.

Your education history should begin with the most recent and detail where you studied, courses, dates and grades or predicted grades. Overall the tone of your CV should be positive, straight to the point, relevant to the job and it should not exceed 2 pages. Next week we will cover the work experience section, achievements/skills, interests and references.

Latest Tip - CVs that deliver

How sharp is your CV? It's one thing making your CV stand out but it's another ensuring that it reads easily and the right information jumps out from the page. As a recruiter scan reading a CV, the most important things should be easily found such as degree course, degree grade and A-levels. Only include relevant work experience and detail the highlights in bullet points. Leave nothing to question - detail dates that are chronologically watertight. Your interests/hobbies section can really be the only part of your CV that's written in full sentences and paragraphs. Don't ever attempt to pad out content to make it look like you've done more as all that does is make it harder for the recruiter to extract the facts. When you're looking over hundreds of CVs everyday the last thing you have time to do is to read bulk text so if you stretch out information in this way it may get overlooked.

How can your CV stand out?

CVs are not just about academic content. Presentation and individuality play a very important role as well - have you really thought about what you're putting out there? Some ideas for an original CV could include a link to your website (if you have one like a portfolio or blog), mention of industry related media you follow or have recently seen that impressed you, links to inspiration/articles or any evidence of your involvement in impressive projects that are just out of the ordinary - obviously nothing completely unrelated! Another thing to remember is that recruiters have to sift through a lot of CVs so make sure the entire document is not too wordy (two pages). Bullet point wherever possible and take out any unessential text. Write an opening statement of three or four lines positioned as the first thing they read. In it you should outline your career ambitions and why your skills are suited so they can instantly build a picture of who you are - think about it carefully to avoid sounding like everyone else.

The Personal Touch to a Good Graduate Covering Letter

Avoid a generic covering letter. A recruiter will be able to see right through a covering letter that is not personalised and is likely to ignore the rest of your application. In fact, rather than saving you time, a poorly researched 'To whom it may concern' letter will waste valuable job hunting hours.