Job Seekers » Graduate Job Advice, tips and CV help » Tip of the week

Here you will find a selection of top tips provided by the specialist consultants here at the Graduate Recruitment Bureau. If there is something you would like to see covered on this page just email info@grb.uk.com with the subject as 'Tip of the week request' and your question.

'Networking plays a key part in finding a graduate job. There are many free online networking tools available - the obvious big names being Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn - which are all new routes to applications. Many employers are embracing these methods so they are a good place to start. Outside of online networking think about who you know, what they do and who they might know. Draw up a list if it helps and contact anyone that might give you a lead. Pushing yourself to make the most of every hint of opportunity will always increase your chances of finding work or work experience. Even if it's by the smallest amount, you never know what it could lead to' Visit our: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Blogger.

'First impressions count for everything. Remember the old story that an interviewer makes their decision on someone within 30 seconds? Well it's not far from the truth. If you've made it to interview they already know that on paper you're technically capable of the job, and yes you will still be tested on this, but equally it's your chance to present yourself. If you have the attitude of "well I can do the job so surely that's enough" then you're in for a surprise as employers want to see potential recruits make every effort with their appearance, greetings and personality in conversation. Be friendly, professional and always dress very smart (suit) even if it's not stated!'

'Looking for a job is a full time job in itself so try and treat it like one. We know all too well how difficult it can be to motivate yourself and be disciplined with your time but if you really want it, it should come second nature. Don't just dip in and out of searching casually - set yourself times to start and finish, don't wait for deadlines - apply there and then, don't just blindly wonder through the web - have a planned strategy of where to go and when to check. If you're caught snoozing, the next graduate behind you could get their feet under the desk intended for you!'

'Did you know that so often it's the small things that graduates do (or don't do!) that can put off recruiters? A classic example of this which may not be totally obvious is your voicemail message - what does it say about you? Very often this will be the first time they get to gauge your character. Your message should sound like you and you should avoid sounding too casual or especially using any slang. Equally, always use a professional email address. While Arsenalfan@...com or supergirlraver@...co.uk may be fine for friends, it may give employers a negative perception of your level of professionalism and commitment to your job search.'

'In this crowded marketplace recruiters are trying their absolute hardest to pick out applicants who show any signs of not being 100% passionate about the industry they want to work in. It's not just about wanting the job - employers need convincing of your genuine interest in order for them to feel that you were unquestionably dedicated before you even heard about the vacancy. This can come in the form of evidence of your involvement related to the industry like magazine subscriptions, recent news, societies, attending talks or independent projects.'

'A very common question or request at interview has always been to talk about yourself a little. This open question doesn't require you to give a chronological description of your life to date but more an opportunity to talk about your recent and current interests that define you as an individual. Touch on various subjects that warrant more detail to open up the conversation when asked. It's your opportunity to paint a picture of what you're about so make it a colourful one! Also try to involve the interviewer by asking their opinion as you may share common ground.'

'Everyone is a critic, but not everyone can deal with criticism in a constructive way. If you're to remain composed, and ultimately successful, then you must learn to treat it like feedback. If you can turn what could be perceived as negative comments into a guideline to your personal refinement, then even rejection can be a lesson worth experiencing.'

'Avoid a generic covering letter. A recruiter will be able to see right through a covering letter that is not personalised and is likely to ignore the rest of your application. In fact, rather than saving you time, a poorly researched 'To whom it may concern' letter will waste valuable job hunting hours.'

'In our experience the start of the year is normally a great time for job hunting. The time off gives recruiters a moment to think about things on a larger scale and will often result a slight rise in job opportunities. If you're starting to look for work make sure you're on the pulse and ready to pounce while everyone else is slowly getting back up to speed. Have several targeted CVs and a versatile covering letter that can be customised ready at hand so you're the first in line. Good luck for 2010!'

'Instead of thinking about your desired end ('a job'), think about what you really want long-term. People are often told that they should come to a decision very fast, but it is much more productive to work out what it is that drives you. Even if you think you know what you want to do, the challenge is to be sure. What are your aspirations? So you want to work in 'marketing' - why? And what exactly is marketing? And what area do you want to work in? And for whom? The better you can pinpoint your target, the quicker you will get there.'

"A graduate's personality or attitude is just as important as their skill level. You can teach an employee a skill, but some say it is nearly impossible, to change aspects of someone's personality. A confident graduate knows what they want, are proud of their accomplishments and have a desire to advance within a company. With confidence at the forefront of your personality people will see professionalism, gain trust in your expertise and ultimately give you more responsibility."

"Don't assume that graduate recruiters only hire at certain times of the year. A large portion of companies recruit all year round and there is no seasonal slowdown over the breaks such as Christmas and New Year. As part of the GRB talent pool you should stay vigilant with your ear to the ground in these periods. Give yourself a competitive advantage by continuing to search and apply for new opportunities as new jobs are listed everyday. If GRB only recruited at certain times of the year, what would we do to fill in the gaps!"

'What would you look for if you were the recruiter? You would want someone who can help you not someone who says 'I would like the experience'. You would want to see confidence in their ability and evidence that they are in for it long term. You would know that they may not have much experience so you would be looking for the graduate that has the most potential to hit the ground running.'

Tanya de Grunwald, the author of "Dude, Where's My Career?" says:
"Recruiters aren't the devil - they're just being squeezed by their boss, who is being squeezed by their boss. They may have less money than they did a couple of years ago, but there's still lots of work to be done. How can you make their lives better?"

'Being technically suitable for a position isn't always enough. Most recruiters will be looking for candidates that can display a real passion for the position - this could be in the form of related work experience, hobbies, extra curricular activities that are similar to the role or membership to societies and professional bodies that are connected to the position.  Soft skills are also high up the list such as working well with people and the ability to communicate your ideas in a constructive manor.'

"Remember that interviews are a two-way process so don't be afraid to ask questions. Well thought out questions can reveal a side of the organisation that they don't advertise. For instance they may have a high turnover of staff so ask how long, on average, does a graduate trainee stay with the company? You could also ask questions on where you might expect to be within the company after a year or two years. This will show ambition and genuine interest in investing your time into the company. Turning an interview around like this can really break the ice and relax the flow of conversation but remember not to command the interview, stay modest and don't be shy to drop in a compliment if something about the company impresses you."

"There is a common graduate misconception that all jobs/schemes have an early recruitment window that involves application and interview way before graduation - this is definitely not always the case! While some big graduate schemes do adopt this process, graduates on the market now don't need to wait for the following year as there are just as many (if not more) companies recruiting all year round with immediate starts. Less obvious small to medium sized businesses make up a large portion of the graduate job market and they may not be as obvious to discover. That's where we come in so don't rule these opportunities out!"

"Are you open for business? Are you making it as easy as possible for potential employers to contact you? In this busy job market employers and recruitment consultants are overwhelmed with applications and it is often said that there is nothing worse than not being able to get hold of someone when they're a perfect match. This normally comes down to people not being willing to give out their phone number or using junk email addresses when registering on job websites.  Some people can get into the habit of not checking emails at all due to the volume they are receiving, but what if one of those emails is the perfect job they have been looking for? If you think you get too many then check your subscription status; it's up to you to decide what to receive. Assuming everything is junk will only close doors on opportunities, don't miss out!"

"You may or may not know that on average an employer or recruitment consultant will only spend around 30 seconds looking at a CV. It sounds cruel I know, considering how long you can spend crafting and forming the perfectly tailored CV, but in reality this is not only all the time they need to make a decision on short-listing, but it's also normally all the time they have when wading through piles of applications. So, how can you make yourself count? In short (excuse the pun) - bullet-point. Bullet-pointing information really helps the reader pick out the important information. It's much more difficult to find relevant skills in a body of text that they have to read word for word so make it easy for them. This is not to say that everything should be bullet-pointed as some subjects like your interests and hobbies can come across better in sentences. Just make sure your skills and experience are laid out in this 'easy to digest' format."

'If you see a job you like the look of (even if it's for a scheme starting at the end of your studies) don't hesitate, apply straight away even if they don't specify a closing date. A quick response looks good on your application and by the time they come around to sifting through cv's, yours will be at the top. You can also apply to employers that are not currently recruiting so you stay on file if something comes up. This is always appealing to an employer as it means they won't have to pay for advertising!'

'If you are finding it difficult to find work why not try focusing on the thriving pockets of the economy: healthcare, renewable energy, biotech, telecommunications. If you can apply your skills to roles within these healthy industries you will increase your chances of finding work. Don't assume that if a company is situated in a particular sector, say in the Healthcare sector, then you need to have studied something health related to work there. Most large companies have departments spanning Finance, IT, Marketing, Sales, Research, HR...'

'Are you networking as effectively as possible? Many jobs are not even posted online or elsewhere these days. Word-of-mouth and employee referral account for the vast amount of recruiting efforts. Make sure everyone you know is aware of what you are looking for and what you have to offer.'

'Even if you're not a fresher, freshers week is full of fantastic opportunities that only come around once a year - make the most of it! Go along to your freshers fair and sign up with any societies that you're interested in, as extra curricular activities will add instant value to your CV. You could even help with any events in freshers week or work for your uni showing new people around. This role is commonly known as a 'Student Ambassador' - ask your university marketing department for more information.'

'Further education or work experience? A recent trend we've picked up on is the increasing number of graduates who are leaning towards further study as the only option to secure a job in the future. We believe that although it can help, further study will not necessarily increase your chances ahead of work experience - even if that experience is not directly related. Of course this varies from industry to industry, so if you're considering it what you need to do is actually find out direct from a few employers if it would make a difference in their selection process. From this research you will be able to make a much more accurate judgement as to whether you will really benefit in the long run.'

'From an employers point of view the best length to make a CV is no more than two pages. Some employers can receive over a hundred applications per vacancy so you want to make their job as easy as possible by cutting out the padding and bullet pointing the important facts. Avoid going into huge amounts of detail on irrelevant points, for example - only give descriptions on relevant work experience and either leave out or list other work experience under another small section. If you feel that there are some more text heavy points you would like to make, use your covering letter to get them across. Another space saving idea is to replace your references section with the simple text 'Excellent references available on request'.'

'When applying for a job, how well do you read the job description? Slow down, break it down, digest it and research before approaching the company. Employers regularly receive CVs from people who seem like they have skimmed over the requirements and just put forward a re-produced application - don't be put in this category! Use your covering letter to relate to each point in the specification and comment or compliment on something related to the companies work or industry. Build your CV around the role. Yes, it takes a lot longer, but the merits are unquestionable.'

'The more applications you send out the higher your chances are of securing an interview. This statement is NOT true. If you make a relatively small number, targeted and carefully fashioned for the posts that are most appropriate and appealing to you, the chances of being short-listed will be considerably higher than firing 100 bland applications at the market and hoping one of them will stick.'

'How much do you really know about the industry you want to get into? For most employers knowledge of their industry is extremely important. An in-depth opinion on the subject not only shows that you know what your talking about, but it also says a lot about your passion and interest. What do you like about the industry? Learn a brief history and be able to comment on where it could go in the next 5 years. Who are the big players and where is the company you are interviewing with positioned in the market? Remember, to an employer and the employees interviewing you their industry and service is something they think about all the time during the working week. By commenting or even complimenting you are establishing common ground as well as showing you have your own voice.' View our Sector Profiles

'You can't get disheartened if you are finding it difficult to get a graduate job! It's no secret that the job market is tough but even in a good economic climate it's never easy to get a job. You can't give up with out a fight. Ask yourself, are you doing absolutely everything you can to get a job or are you occasionally de-motivated and doing less because everyone says "oh it's impossible!". Don't listen to what other people may or may not say about an industry. Experience and research it for yourself and make your own decisions - GRB is always here to do everything we can to help.'

'Applying to every job under the sun will only damage your job search. Most people would think that if they take this approach they will statistically increase their chances of finding a job but this isn't the case. Because of the increase in this kind of activity employers are more cautious than ever when reviewing applications as they don't want to hire someone who applied to their role as a fourth, fifth or sixth choice. It all comes down to knowing what you want and having a passion for the subject - this is what will give an employer confidence in your potential.'

'When creating a targeted covering letter you should try to use relevant, focused language rather than the usual skill descriptions like 'teamwork', 'outgoing' or 'hardworking'. Employers can see straight through a 'general' cover letter or an adapted version from one used with another job. Also make sure you always stay relevant to the role by answering to the skill aspects described in the job description.'

'One of the most commonly overlooked things we find with candidates at interview is the level of research they have made on the company. This is extremely important if you want to stand a chance in front of a potential employer. Treat it like an exam; make sure you know such things as common terminologies or abbreviations, the history of the company, their clients or target market and their aims as a company. Your knowledge in these areas will make the employer feel confident in your enthusiasm and genuine interest for the role. The best place to find this information is the company website. If they don't have one call them up before hand and ask them if they can send you some more information on the company.'

'How about investing some thought into the 'Interests' section of your CV? A few carefully written points about your activities outside of work can reflect a more rounded view of you as a candidate, and can even influence whether or not you are offered an interview. Hobbies like 'drinking' or 'socialising' are probably best avoided, whereas a few words about something you enjoy doing could make all the difference.'

'If you have just begun to look for a career then you must organise your job hunt! Once you start looking and applying for jobs, it can be hard to keep track of who you have contacted and what response you received. Take a thorough approach when making your applications. Log each company you approach in a spreadsheet, dating the entry and commenting on the status. It's also a good idea to keep copies of the letters and emails you send for your own reference.'

'Secure your references. Meet with professors, employers and others on-campus that you hope to use as a reference.  Be certain they are enthusiastic about doing so and understand what opportunities you seek and qualifications you possess.  Ask if they would be willing to give you an electronic copy of a letter of recommendation in the event you need to produce one on short notice.'

'Don't leave it too late to use a valuable job-hunting resource whilst at uni. Careers Advisors can provide face-to-face guidance and information to help you design a job-hunting strategy'

'Work experience is about gaining skills and contacts. It is a great way to 'feel out' your ideal job and boost your CV. Make the most of your time there and get involved in social events. This way you get to meet people from different parts of the company and see where you might fit in.'

'Companies will seek exceptional individuals who can add value to their organisation. As a graduate you can bring useful skills, but you need to be able to present skills that are relevant to the role. In an interview, one way to find this out is to ask who are the good role models in the organisation and why? This way you can provide evidence of your suitability based on the reply.'

'You should customise your application for many reasons.  It shows you have read and understood the job specification and gives the impression you are keen about the role.  Relate your skills directly to the job specification - this will automatically give you a head start.  For example you may have experience working behind a bar, this displays customer service skills which are required for many graduate positions.'

'CSR or Corporate Social Responsibility is a growing area that companies are addressing. To find out how active your potential employer is in the local community and how you can be involved, you can ask what development opportunities exist and how these contribute to the wider community.'

'Be brief and to the point in a covering letter. It should be no more than one page long. Use simple and direct language, even if you are applying for a technical or professional position (applications may be screened by people who do not work in your field).' View our example covering letters