There used to be a time when you could walk into a place of business, ask for a job, and start the following Monday. Employers used to take chances on people off the street, meaning a lot of people ended up in jobs they weren’t initially qualified for but thrived at purely because someone gave them an opportunity and saw their potential.
Unfortunately, that isn’t the case anymore. Employers are increasingly demanding years of experience from every candidate, making it almost impossible for graduates and those fresh out of school to get on the career ladder in the field they want to work in, be that working in marketing jobs or construction.
Whilst this is unfair, it is, sadly, the way the jobs market is at the moment, so that means candidates are having to adapt to the way they approach getting a job. If you’re looking to get your first professional job but are unsure where to start, here are some tips that will help you get noticed by employers and start on your career path.
1. Refine your CV
First, you need to refine your CV. You may have one that you made at school, but you need to make sure it’s up-to-date and laid out in a way that employers will like. This means keeping it to just one page, including your contact information, keeping your personal summary short, and including your relevant experience and qualifications near the top.Employers won’t care too much about what you do in your spare time or who your favorite bands are, they want to know the personal attributes you have that will aid you in your employment with them. With this in mind, keep your CV short, concise, and simple to read.
2. Do your research
Many graduates fail to get an employer’s attention because they don’t do their research. They apply for so many jobs at once (which is fine), but don’t bother to put in the time to learn more about the company and what they’re about. This can put employers off, so make sure you crawl their website and social media profiles, learn when they were founded, their business stories, and talk about any notable events, e.g., fundraisers. This will impress employers and speak volumes about your due diligence.3. Be persistent
Getting a job is hard for everyone, not just graduates. You are up against potentially hundreds of other applicants, so there will be countless times when employers don’t even look at your CV because it’s buried under countless others. You will, no doubt, experience rejection on a massive scale, but the key is to not get disheartened. Be persistent, and someone will take a chance on you – even if it’s the 100th application you send in. Even when you hear a thousand no’s, all you need is one yes, so hold out hope and good things will eventually come.4. Dress for the job you want
Another fatal mistake many graduates make is failing to dress appropriately. It might be that the company you’re interviewing at is fully remote and adopts a casual dress code, but you still need to make sure you turn up looking professional. Invest in one good interview outfit and dress for the job you want, not the job you have.5. Intern and volunteer
Our final tip is to undertake internships and volunteer roles where possible. This isn’t an option for everyone because of the poor financial compensation that comes with such roles, but if you can afford to spend three months interning at a company in your field, it will provide you with invaluable experience to put on your CV. You may even impress them so much they choose to keep you on after!
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Tips & Tricks