The Year Ahead as a Graduate

The final run-up to the seasonal break is here and once you finally get the time to rest, make sure you reserve just a little moment to take a breather, reflect on the year and plan for the new one. As 2011 approaches, the prospects of annual recruitment budgets being positively re-assessed for the new year will see activity in the graduate world taking the shortest holiday of all. This means you have to stay on the pulse and keep up to date with any changes to the industries you are looking to break into. You can also use the time through this quieter period to re-work CVs and fine tune them ready for January so as soon as new jobs start being released, you are ready to apply.

Graduate job hunt now or later?

If you're in your final year there are many pros and cons for job hunting now or later. Some would say focus on your studies to make sure you get the grade you need which would be good advice. Others would say application deadlines need attention and if you miss the classic 'grad scheme window' then you won't be able to apply again until next year. This can be true for some roles and it's always important to start getting things in motion while still at uni, but it's also important to remember that these jobs only make up a portion of the market. The graduate job market is huge, and many of you will more than likely end up working for a company you have never heard of who don't recruit in the classic grad scheme circles. These companies and many more (not always graduate focused) recruit all year round so if you're worried about not having the time to make enough applications now due to your uni work load, don't let it stress you out. Focus on what you see as a priority, stick with it and when those deadlines are met, go for it!

What do employers look for?

What employers look for in a potential graduate may not be as simple as you think - degree, A-levels, work experience, IT skills etc. They are also looking for a number of other attributes which you need to get across not only in your CV, but your interviews as well. It obviously varies from job to job but generally at the top of the list they will be looking for enthusiasm, self-reliance, problem solving and verbal and written communication skills. Possessing a portfolio of skills such as this which are flexible enough to adapt to any number of graduate jobs and situations will increase your employability a great deal. If you feel that you are lacking in any of these areas then work on them so you can apply with confidence!

Memorise your open applications

When you're firing out CVs to a range of different roles it can be difficult to remember who each one was with, what the role entailed and how you went about applying. If you want to make a really good first impression, memorise your open applications as best you can so if you unexpectedly receive a pre-screening call you are prepared for any questions and have something to offer back in conversation. Remembering and being instantly knowledgeable on the role will show you're really serious and that it has been at the forefront of your mind ahead of other applications. First impressions count so much in these situations as the recruiter will normally have a lot of people to look through so don't answer with:


"erm, sorry I've applied to so many roles I can't remember which one you are talking about"

...as for the interviewer that will put an instant question mark above your head!

Graduate Career Advice On iTunes

Just incase you didn't know, a podcast is a downloadable digital audio file that is most commonly used for radio talk shows and news stories but is now also a widespread form of media for many businesses. The Graduate Recruitment Bureau are pleased to announce that our Podcast episodes are now available for download free from iTunes.


Listen to the latest career advice on finding a graduate job. From sector profiles and industry secrets, to CV advice and interview questions -GRBs podcasts offer great advice on everything you need to get the career you deserve. You can find them in the iTunes Store now!

Click here to download our current podcasts and subscribe to our feed to keep up to date with all the latest advice from The Graduate Recruitment Bureau.

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.