When you leave University you’ll probably make a fair few acquisitions; a shiny new degree, an embarrassing photo album and a snazzy new title, graduate.
This may seem exciting but it hasn’t been the best of years for graduates; expect unemployment in the hundreds of thousands and, with more joining the club in the near future, competition promises to toughen. So, how do you ensure you avoid this not so exclusive club?
My top tip is specificity. Most graduates, myself included, are tempted to farm their CVs out to as many jobs as possible, so long as it is remotely eye catching. However, this strategy is flawed and won’t produce the results many hope for.
This is because your CV is usually quite specific, denoting a list of your academic achievements and work experiences to date. If it is sent out to unrelated prospective employers, you run the risk of sending an entirely irrelevant application. Furthermore, HR personnel and hiring managers are trained to weed out candidates with a lack of genuine interest.
It’s difficult because most graduates would probably take any job (beggars can’t be choosers), but to the HR Director of the private company you’ve applied to, it’s not very sensible to entertain a lukewarm application. It’s important to remember that as a graduate, you are an investment and your employer expects a return on that investment. This requires commitment on your part; they need to know that they are not a stepping stone to something different and that you don’t intend to leave in a few months time.
So, when you are applying, pick an industry, focus on it and put every effort to ensuring your skills and experience match the required skill set. It will go a long way to maximising your chances of getting employed and save you a lot of unnecessary disappointment
Copyright 2012 Meet The Real Me Ltd
