Steps to finding work
A systematic approach
- Be clear about what jobs you want. Knowing what your career options are is important. For many jobs your subject of study is less important than the essential skills and competencies required by the job. The Resources section of JobSavviGrad includes a product called Adult Directions which you can use to help you generate career ideas. You can also look at Options with Your Subject to see examples of the range of career choices that are available.
- Find out what skills the job requires. Graduate Prospects has a comprehensive range of Job Profiles These can be used to help identify the entry requirements for different jobs and the typical skills required.
- Know your own skills and abilities. Profiling for Success is an online resource that is available through the Resources section on JobSavviGrad. This interactive tool helps you identify your key skills and competencies. Relate these to the job and think about how you will evidence these. Do not limit your options - you will find that your transferable skills can open up a broad range of opportunities.
- Find out where vacancies are advertised. JobSavviGrad will soon provide a number of research tools to help you identify employer websites where opportunities may be advertised and access social media to help identify key contacts.
- Prospects Directory. Make sure that you collect from the Careers and Employment Service publications such as the Prospects Directory, available from October each year. This lists many of the graduate recruitment programmes that are available. For some specialist roles there are sites that focus on these areas.
- Read the press, industry magazines and journals. All of the major national papers and some of the local publications have online versions or dedicated jobs pages. Links to some these are available on the Careers website.
- Make speculative inquiries. Remember, not all vacancies are advertised. Networking and speculative approaches to potential employers should be included in your job searching strategy. Networking and the Creative Job Search -
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published by Bristol University should help you maximise the effectiveness of this approach to finding work. This guide on Speculative Letters -
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is produced by the Careers Group, London.
- Job fairs are advertised on a number of sites. For example Graduate Prospects and the Events Section on the Careers website and allow you to meet employers and gain a better understanding of the opportunities that are available and what qualities they are looking for in future employees.
- Develop your writing skills. Communication skills are typically at the top of an employer's list of requirement. An employer will judge you on what they read. Use a professional style of writing, check spelling and grammar and think about presentation.
- Make sure that your CV is relevant to the job. An effective CV/Application is one that gets you an interview. Typically this means meeting the Person Specification relating to the job. Make sure you know what the employer is looking for and ensure that you evidence your suitability within the application. The 'About Me' section in JobSavviGrad will help you build your personal portfolio which evidences your ability. You can use this when making applications through JobSavviGrad. You can also check some of these guides to help you produce an effective CV.
- Brush up your telephone skills. If calling a potential employer, plan what you are going to say and practise saying it before you call. Think about the questions you want to ask and how you will deal with barriers. Identify who you need to speak to and how will you ensure that you can get through to them. Do not ignore timing, think about when is the best time to call. Tips on Telephone Interviews -
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are available in this guide published by the Careers Group, London.
- Keep a record of the jobs you have applied for. Establish a system and ensure that your job hunting is an organised activity. If you are invited to an interview you will need to know exactly what you said in your application. JobSavviGrad allows you to record and track all your applications in one place.
Getting a job requires a systematic and thorough approach.
The job market is very competitive and you need to be well prepared.
JobSavviGrad
This opportunity search engine and application management system is a valuable tool to have. Register here for a JobSavviGrad account.
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