Hello welcome to digital career tactics the tactical career advice blog that is all about getting the best job prospects for you. If you just recently graduated from University, well done! But we fully understand that it is hard out there now when it comes to securing an interview for jobs and/or Graduate positions.
COVID has a lot to answer for and it has affected every single job market in one way or another.
We understand that for you, the frustrations are incredibly acute given the fact that you have worked hard to get a great qualification but you are now stifled when it comes to getting the experience you need to levitate your employability.
In this blog post, we have put together a list containing seven points that will help you focus your mind on securing the job you want.
Career Advice
Getting early career advice is a great place to start. As a recent graduate, it is important that you speak to somebody in the profession you want to get valuable insight. Gaining this sort of information can be very advantageous because it can help you understand the process of how recruitment can work in that specific niche.
Information such as how CVS are screened, how your potential career progress could develop, and they can talk to you about relevant experiences which might be required before joining. If you can get it, career advice can be extremely valuable.
Work Experience
Relevant work experience can be view as a currency, a vital currency that can help you pay your way towards securing an interview. Employers view work experience extremely favourably. By having work experience on your CV, employers see that you are willing to go above and beyond, that you are someone who really wants that job.
Work experience also gives you a lot of opportunities to expand your network, to develop relationships in-house and to get a real insight into what goes on in the office. You will also get to see the day to day tasks and activities that you would normally carry out. But the most important thing of all is that work experience will allow you to experience whether you would like the job or the industry you are working hard to get into!
Networking
Networking is an extremely valuable skill. We recommend that you focus on using LinkedIn as your go-to networking platform and develop your LinkedIn profile so that people who land on it can distinguish exactly what it is you do. If you have a portfolio of work, ensure its visible and easily accessible. If you can, write regular articles and posts on the profession you want to pursue and engage with people in your community on your timeline and theirs it will certainly help increase your profile.
Also. we believe that you should really focus on looking to follow as many people in the industries that you want to work in – this can open new insights and opportunities for you.
Flexibility
Being flexible early on in your career can give you a distinct advantage over those that may be tied down with several commitments. It may be that the job you want needs you relocate. It might be difficult but if you really want the job, it might have to be considered.
Employers are becoming more demanding because they have more choice in the market now, you must be ready to meet their demands. This includes salary expectations, employers will not want to pay over the odds, especially now – it is not always fair but that is where we are now.
Learn More
Learn, learn, learn! Knowledge really is power! It is essential that you learn more as you go on through your career and there is no better time to start right now. Sure, you have just graduated but you are just starting out and we recommend that you throw yourself in yourself into new courses, new ways of thinking and new practices. Continually upskill and make sure you and your CV is fresh and relevant for when you hit the job market.
Improve Your CV
Your CV is an essential tool in the pursuit of securing an interview. Look at this way, your CV is your shop window, a window for you to sell yourself from. If employers walk past your shop window, you want them to stop, grab their interest and then pull them in. If your window is messy or the curtains are drawn, they will not come in, and they will walk past your shop window and go in next door. If you need help with your CV, we are here to help.
Understand your industry
If you understand the general recruitment process of the industry you want to join it can help give you a real advantage towards to securing an interview. You will get to understand the process how it recruits and you’ll gather some good insights into how you can prepare yourself for that process so when you complete an application, you’re on the front foot as you know what they’ll be looking for. You might get to know the sort of rigorous testing that the selection process could entail or the way that interviews are processed.
This information can keep you ready and prepared so that you are not surprised about what could be in front of you.
Here’s the list below.
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Get career advice early!
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Work experience
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Network
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Be flexible and ready to move
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Be prepared to learn more
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Get your CV in top condition
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Understand the specific recruitment of the area you want to focus on
