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Craft a CV to Highlight Your Skills and Goals
Your CV (also referred to as a resume) is the first impression potential employers will have of you. It should showcase your qualifications, skills, and relevant experiences clearly and effectively.
Many recent graduates tend to have limited work experience as they’ve been busy studying, and that’s okay! You can keep your CV concise and focus on relevant internships, coursework, and school projects. Don’t be afraid to keep your CV to one page, employers would rather read a concise CV that outlines experiences relevant to the role they are hiring for, rather than a longer CV that doesn’t say much.
It may feel unnecessary at first, but tailoring your CV to each job you apply for can have a major impact. Employers want to interview people they feel confident have the skills they are specifically looking for, so if you ensure your CV highlights the key qualifications they’ve asked for in their job description, you will significantly increase the likelihood of being asked for an interview. Include both hard and soft skills such as software proficiency, communication skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. Highlighting your career goals and showcasing your personal brandin the ‘professional summary’ of your CV is also recommended, as it hints at how well you would fit with a business’s company culture.
To help tell your story, place your education section at the top of your CV, including your degree, the course you studied, graduation date, and any honours, certifications, or relevant coursework. This helps employers understand why your work experience may be limited. Also, whenever possible, use quantifiable achievements to demonstrate your impact. This could be highlighting the number of essays you wrote per term for a job that requires copywriting, or the amount of money you helped raise for a student union or charity project. By showcasing your skillsets and hard work with KPIs during job interviews and in your application, you become more appealing to hiring managers and will stand out amongst other job seekers.
For more practical tips and guidance on CV writing, review our CV writing guideas well as our advice on cover letter writing to help you get started and land your first graduate job.
Build Your Network and Talk with People
‘Networking’ may sound like a workplace buzzword, but building your network, and connecting with people you already know, can go a long way towards making your job search less daunting. If you’re unsure of where to start, consider the five ideas below:
1 . LinkedIn: Create a professional LinkedIn profile. Connect with alumni, lecturers, classmates, and professionals in your desired filed. Follow recruiters in your desired industry as they will often promote roles they’re actively recruiting for as well as industry insights and advice. It is also a good idea to connect with hiring managers once you have applied for a role and reach out to thank interviewers on LinkedIn once you’ve spoken with them.
Check out our blog post on 10 ways to maximise your LinkedIn profileto help you get started.
2. Attend Events: Attend career fairs, industry conferences, and networking events. These are excellent opportunities to meet potential employers and learn about job openings. Making an impression in-person is an effective way to build your personal brand further and differentiate yourself from other new grads. When attending events, it can help if you have a copy of your CV or something with your details on it to pass along to people you speak with.
3. Informational Interviews: Reach out to professionals for informational interviews. This is a chance to learn more about their careers and gain insights into the industry. By doing so you can also get a good understanding of common interview questions you are likely to be asked in the type of job role you’re after.
4. Alumni Associates: Many universities have alumni networks that can help recent graduates find job opportunities. This is a great way to receive career advice and job search tips from someone with a similar background to yourself. It may also be possible that they know of jobs which they can offer a referral for.
5. Online Communities: Join online forums and communities related to your field. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and build your online presence. Social media is also a great way to build an online presence, do bear in mind that your digital footprint can be accessed by potential employers!
Even after landing a job, continue building your professional network. It can open doors to future opportunities and it’s important to keep up with your connections.
There are Many Job Opportunities to Consider
For recent graduates who don’t have a great deal of work experience to date, getting started can feel daunting and many young people aren’t sure what sort of job would be right for them. There are many places to find entry-level positions, as well as alternative types of work that may help you determine the correct, longer-term path for you.
To get started, we recommend you consider:
- Utilise Adecco’s industry-specific job boards
to search for job postings, part-time vacancies, and entry-level jobs. We work on placements up and down the country, across many different industries. By looking at our job board you will get a feeling for the types of roles available in your area and the skills required.
- Think about your favourite companies or businesses you admire and search for their website. Most companies will have a ‘Work for Us’ or ‘Careers’ page where they outline what it is like working for them, and the types of roles they recruit for.
- Internships are a great way to get started in a new industry and these placements can lead to full-time positions while providing valuable experience and working opportunities.
- Temporary or contract positions can help you gain experience and build your resume while you decide what job you would like to pursue full-time. Temporary associates who work with Adecco gain access to a huge number of special benefits, including gym membership discounts and pension contributions. Discover our temporary positions and support today
- Volunteering can also be a way to gain experience, develop skills, and expand your network. Not only for people early in their careers, volunteering offers many workers insights into the types of work they’d like to do down the line and can be extremely fulfilling.
Stay Persistent and Positive
The job search process can be challenging for everyone, and rejection is a part of it. Stay persistent, maintain a positive attitude, and know that the right role will find you.
Especially when you are just starting your career, there may be many roles you apply for as you decide what sort of work is right for you. Be sure to stay organised by using job search tracking tools or spreadsheets to keep tabs on applications, deadlines, and follow-ups. Working with a recruiter can also help with the admin that comes with search for a job, as they will keep these records and will touch base with you regularly throughout the recruitment process.
After every interview, and even after rejections, be sure to ask for feedback to learn from and improve. This will help you determine if there is anything you could focus on in future interviews, or if there are things you could improve on in your CV or communication style.
Setting realistic expectations and practicing self-care can also go a long way to helping you stay motivated during your search. Be open to entry-level positions that may not align perfectly with your current long-term goals. These can serve as stepping stones to your dream job and may offer unexpected opportunities. Be sure to also check out our advice on how to stay motivated during your job search, where we highlight what you can do to take care of your physical and mental well-being.
Remember, the journey from recent graduate to gainfully employed professional may have its challenges, but with determination, a well-crafted CV, effective networking, and a job search strategy, you will set yourself on a path to a successful career. Embrace the learning experiences along the way, and soon you’ll find the right new job to kickstart your career journey. Good luck, and make sure to check out the openings we have for graduate opportunities.
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