Making the Right Choice for your Graduate Career

It’s the choices you’ve made, and will make, that ultimately define the shape of your graduate career among other things. At some point everyone has made a wrong decision, big or small, but the most successful people know that those experiences can be the most valuable of all. If you feel that right now making a decision on the path of your career is so paramount that it could make or break you then just stop - really it isn’t! Don’t worry so much about making the right choice and instead focus on finding something that simply seems appealing and plays on your skills. As you progress you can use this time to conduct valuable research on yourself and what you find interesting and inspiring from first-hand experience and move your career confidently in the right direction.

Tailoring your Graduate Application Form

Employers expect applications for graduate jobs to reflect commitment and meticulous attention.  It is crucial that enough time and care is dedicated to filling them out and proofreading them for any spelling and grammatical errors. Every application should bear in mind the position applied for, and should not have any ‘generic’ connotations.  These reflect a lack of dedication and research into your potential employer. A rushed application form is instantly obvious and will fast track you to the unsuccessful pile! Make sure you invest your undivided attention in reading and interpreting each question. From the research you have done on the company, ensure that your response is fitting to satisfy their values and beliefs. All applications need to be tailored, even those for similar roles, as different employers seek different attributes in their candidates.  A well-tailored, grammatically sound application which observes the company’s ethos is therefore sure to impress!

Graduate Interview Advice from Whitney Port's New Book 'True Whit'

Interviews can be an extremely tough and daunting experience so speaking to someone with first-hand experience can be really beneficial. In Whitney Port’s new book ‘True Whit’ she gives some great advice based on her experiences. First impressions are crucial, “When you walk in and see that interviewer for the first time, you project confidence, charisma, and a coolness that only someone sincerely wonderful could possess. This is not faking it; this is making it happen!”. “Expect the unexpected, sometimes an interviewer might even say something you don't agree with. When this happens to me, I try to be rational and level headed.” When answering questions, think of what you’re about to say and project this clearly. Do not be afraid to express your viewpoints and opinions, even if these challenge those of the interviewer; “Sometimes people respect when their authority is questioned and you prove you have a strong viewpoint.”  Lastly, always ask questions! “The best way to convey you're eager to join the team (without getting up on the desk and doing a cheer) is to ask relevant and intelligent questions, stick to the topics you know the interviewer would like to hear about: "What is the company's goal for the upcoming year?" "What would my role be and what would a typical day be like for me?" As you leave, give the interviewer a firm handshake and thank him/her for meeting with you.” Et voila! Follow these handy tips and you’re bound to succeed! CHECK OUT MORE ADVICE FROM WHITNEY PORT'S 'TRUE WHIT' HERE

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!

Using Twitter for Graduate Jobs

If you didn't know, social media is playing a bigger part in the world of graduate recruitment than ever and aside from the more professional LinkedIn, Twitter is actually a fantastic tool to use in your search for graduate jobs. Don't see Twitter as just a social tool, as by crafting out clever searches you can uncover networking opportunities that could really open doors for you and impress key people. Try it - simply go to Twitter.com and type in a search for a job title or area of interest and look through the results to find people either advertising or talking about it. Connect or ‘follow’ these people to send them a message and find out more or even just click the link normally in the tweet. This approach is just the tip of the iceberg, the rest is down to your networking skills so get out there!

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.

You’ve Been Googled – What Employers Don’t Want To See On Your Online Profile.

Conducting an online search, more commonly known as ‘Googling’ a potential employee, has now become a common practice among interviewers - like it or not. Making sure that your online profile reflects a genuine, honest and positive portrayal of yourself is very important so before attending an interview you should check your online profile and moderate anything which could act as a repellent. Google your name and see what comes up. An impressive online profile should show attributes such as positive hobbies, strong business networks and community involvement. Look over any photos that can be publically accessed (like profile pictures) bearing in mind that these will paint a picture of your character. No employer will be too impressed to find their candidate tagged in photos showing disorderly behaviour. Photos of wild nights out, revealing clothing, engagement in unsociable activity or immature/controversial comments could put you on the spot or even cost you the interview for your dream graduate job.