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AgencyCentral
are pleased to be in partnership with The
CV Centre, the UK's leading CV consultancy, in bringing
you a helpful range of graduate advice articles.
A degree
course can charge by at lightning speed, what with the whirlwind
of societies, student union events, yet another beer promotion
and ….oh yes, all those lectures, seminars, essays, dissertations
and final exams. As your final year comes to a close, after
having spent several years honing your knowledge, it is time
to step out into the world and launch your career.
Be Prepared
It is
of course a good idea to consider the direction you would
like your career to take from the beginning of your degree
course. You may well find that your plans and aspirations
change as you move through your course, but if you are aware
of your ultimate goal from the outset, you should have far
more opportunity to make sure you have obtained the skills
that potential employers will require. This will also enable
you to take more time when considering your career path, rather
than being swept up into the mad rush for jobs as graduates
pour out onto the jobs market after their finals. It can also
be a good idea to find out the application procedures of the
organisations that interest you well in advance of your finals
so as to make sure you do not miss their application deadlines.
Work Experience
and Internships
Some companies
may well require industry-specific experience in the workplace,
in addition to your formal academic qualifications, and, with
a little planning ahead, the potential of those lengthy summer
breaks could be maximised if you were to take up relevant
work experience or internships. Aim to contact employers in
the fields you are considering early on in your course to
find out which type of work experience they would consider
most valuable in a potential new recruit. It can also be worth
enquiring whether there are work experience or internship
opportunities in the particular organisation you would most
like to work for. This could be an invaluable way to obtain
an 'insiders' view of your chosen profession, to see if it
really is the career path you want for yourself.
Internships
and work experience placements can also be useful ways of
breaking into careers which are unusually difficult to gain
a foothold within, for example the arts. Making a strong,
positive impression of your ability to perform in the workplace,
as well as academically, may just give you the edge you need
when competing against all those other graduates.
Where
To Look
Publications
- Even if you are just beginning to consider which career
you would like to aim for, it can be worth subscribing to
(or reading in a library) trade journals and publications
relevant to the sectors that interest you. This should give
you a sense not only of the positions available but also a
clearer idea of news and current developments within the sector.
Another, rather more obvious point is to make sure you do
not forget that national newspapers carry specialised careers
supplements and recruitment sections. Find out which day each
paper publishes recruitment pages for your area of interest.
Careers
fairs, particularly those aimed specifically at graduates,
e.g. The
Guardian Summer Graduate Fair, can also be an invaluable
source of information, and a useful opportunity to speak face-to-face
with representatives of numerous different companies and organisations.
You should also find out from your careers office if a fair
will be coming to your university.
The Internet
is of course also an invaluable tool in terms of careers research,
not least in terms of being able to take a good look around
the websites of companies and organisations that interest
you. In this way you should be able to find out more about
how they operate and check their application procedures and
requirements.
Recruitment
agencies can also provide valuable assistance when job hunting
and, once again, you will find that some agencies specialise
in specific sectors whilst others are more general. Temporary
work can also be found through agencies and can be a flexible
way to earn money whilst you are searching for something more
permanent. 'Temping' can also be another method of 'toe dipping'
in a specific employment sector, especially with so-called
'temp to perm' jobs. These can be particularly useful as they
give both the employee and the employer the opportunity to
see whether the arrangement would work in the long term. Have
a look at Temping Tips for
Graduates, also compiled by The
CV Centre, for further information on temping and recruitment
agency procedures.
Alumni
- You may find that your lecturers, tutors, etc. have kept
in touch with recent graduates. If possible, find out if a
previous student has followed the path you are thinking of
taking and see whether you would be able to contact them to
answer any questions you may have about the reality of that
career path..
Application
Procedures
Once you
have identified where you wish to go, make sure you have up-to-date
information about any recruitment procedures and deadlines.
Application procedures vary widely but you are likely to need
to tackle on-line application forms, traditional paper application
forms and of course be able to provide a well written and
well presented CV, in addition to producing a range of persuasive
covering letters. It is vital that these documents are properly
prepared. Please
Click Here to find out how The
CV Centre, the UK's leading CV consultancy, can ensure
that your CV, application forms and covering letters are truly
outstanding, putting you well on your way to the career you
deserve.
Also View
the A - Z of Graduate Recruitment
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