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10 survival tips for new graduates

1)   Keep calm and make a start (today)

When it comes to starting out on your graduate job hunt, it’s easy to feel like everyone else has it all figured out already. But they haven’t.

The majority of your peers will be too stressed finishing their final few assignments to have started working on their CVs, let alone applying for jobs.

If you don’t know exactly what you want to do with your degree or you don’t have an up-to-date CV, don’t worry. Now’s the time to take action.

2)   Cover yourself

A cover letter is essential. This can’t be stressed enough: it’s your chance to put your personality across and tailor yourself to a specific role.

Recruiters receive hundreds of graduate CVs, so a well-crafted cover letter can be the deciding factor in who they choose to interview.

Make the content relevant to the job you’re applying for and avoid opening your letter with a generic ‘To whom it may concern…’ by taking time to find out who to address your cover letter to.

How to write a covering letter

3)   Do your homework

It may seem obvious, but the more planning you do, the more it will benefit you in the long run.

You can learn a lot about a company just from visiting their website and  doing some research.

Your CV will be more relevant (for instance, you can use value statements to match yourself to their mission statement and goals), and you’ll have the background you need if you make it to the interview stage.

4)  Get yourself a hobby

Think about what sets you apart from other graduates. Include any relevant units or subjects you’ve studied which may make you an ideal candidate.

Have you done any voluntary work or undertaken any courses which may be relevant to the position? If not, this may be a good time to consider it.

The same goes for hobbies. Make the most of your new-found free time and take up something which will set you apart.

Remember: it’s never too late.

5)   Sell yourself, not the title of your degree

When you start applying for jobs, there’s a good chance your degree won’t have that much relevance to the position you’re interested in. But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you’re unsuitable.

Look past the title of your degree and think about what skills you’ve picked up along the way. Working to deadlines, research and analytical skills, giving presentations, demonstrating logical thinking and interpersonal skills are all great attributes often gained through higher education.

The list really is endless. It’s all about how you present and communicate them.

6)  Be confident, stay positive

This applies, not only to your attitude, but also to your language. When writing your CV, avoid common mistakes such as ‘I feel I have…’ or ‘I can be good at…’ Remember: you’re selling yourself to the employer. A little confidence can go a long way.

This also applies if your degree doesn’t completely match the position you’re applying for. Starting a cover letter with a phrase such as ‘I know that I don’t have much experience in this field…’ won’t give an employer much of an incentive to continue reading.

Recruiters seldom see ‘the perfect candidate’. Focus on what you can offer them, rather than what you can’t.

7)   Keep building your network

Never underestimate the power of networking. Search through your friends and family, family friends and friends of friends. You may not have seen them for years (you may never even have met them!), but that shouldn’t matter.

Get your name out there. If you can pick up some work experience from one of your contacts or even an update when a potential position comes up, it’ll definitely be worth it.

8)   Get some experience

It’s a dirty job, but… you should be prepared to start from the bottom.

To get into your desired field or dream job, you’ll probably need to gain some experience. This could be entry level or even unpaid: many companies provide internships or graduate work experience opportunities.

At this point, you’ll probably be used to having limited funds, so a few more months won’t hurt.

9)   Consider all the options

Ok. You’ve reached graduation and have absolutely no idea what kind of jobs you’re qualified for. Trust us, you’re not the only one.

Make sure you know all the options before you start writing yourself off. Sometimes your degree can open more doors than you realise and take your career in a completely different direction. Even if you don’t think it’s necessarily ‘career friendly’, you’d be surprised.

Find out what other areas you can go into and start applying.

10)  Don’t take it personally

It’s an unfortunate fact, but as a graduate jobseeker, a certain amount of rejection is inevitable. Over 300,000 new graduates will start looking for jobs between April and September. It’s competitive, but that’s not to say it’s impossible.

If you’ve applied for a few positions and haven’t heard anything back, try not to take it personally. It’s all about perseverance.

If possible, try taking the positives (and negatives) from each application. It doesn’t hurt to ask a recruiter why you were unsuccessful. You might just learn something.