Job Seekers » Graduate Job Advice » 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.

Like it or not, some employers and recruiters will search for you on social networking websites. You are in control of your online identity and a prudent candidate would take this as seriously as their CV and covering letter. A simple solution would be to restrict public access to your profiles, but a page on a social networking site that shows you are socially active and fun could increase your employment credentials. Just try to avoid anything controversial like an outlandish political view that seemed funny at the time or over use of swearing or any other inappropriate material.

If you haven't already, it may be a good idea to set up a LinkedIn profile. This is an online networking site for professionals. On this site an employer will be able to see the contacts you have made during any previous work experience you have had. Also, if you have an account with LinkedIn it's often the first result if someone Googles your name, making it easy for them to view your professional history.

Before an interview we all know that it is good practice to do some research. This will help you answer typical questions like "tell me what you know about the business?" The obvious place to find relevant information will be the company's website. However, the problem is that every other candidate will be doing the same, leaving you with very little to distinguish yourself with - don't miss this opportunity to impress! When researching before an interview you need to go the extra mile and use your time intelligently. Research the company's competitors, the market they deal in and see if they have been in the news recently. These are the areas you need to cover if you want to show the interviewer you're really on the pulse and that you want that graduate job.

A key part of a successful move into a new graduate job will be getting a clean breakaway from any current employers. The best approach is to give as much notice as possible and continue working as if you plan to stay. While it is important to give good notice, make sure you have written conformation from your new employer before you do so. Also, try to avoid telling co-workers that you are applying elsewhere. This will allow you to keep your options open. Before leaving, ask a senior person who you have worked with to give you a reference. If you talk to this person about your future role and what you hope to achieve, then they will be able to promote you in a better way.

If you have graduated and you are struggling to get a graduate job the best thing to do in the short term is, you guessed it, something! When you get that important interview, the potential employer will ask what you've been up to since graduating. If you haven't got a good response alarm bells will start ringing. If you can reel off a list of useful pursuits it will show you've been busy and create the impression that you could be an active employee. So get out there, pass your driving test, do some voluntary work, learn to play the trombone, visit recruitment fairs, do a sponsored run, shadow a professional and master Mandarin!

Here at GRB we quite commonly speak to graduates who don't realise the actual potential of their qualifications. What we mean by this is that if for example there is a graduate role being advertised in finance, you don't necessarily need to have studied a finance related degree to be eligible for it. It's all about reading the job specification and looking into what they are actually looking for. For example we place many people from Humanities backgrounds such as English or History into marketing graduate jobs and PR graduate jobs as they require people with strong research and writing skills. Your degree doesn't have to dictate what you go into by any means so widen your vision and think about exploring the potential out there.

Are you really reading job descriptions in full? If you're skimming over them in an attempt to get more applications done, it's likely you'll make mistakes. Ideally you should be reading over a job description 2-3 times before even considering the best way to apply. Break it down into what the company does, what the requirements are and what type of person they're looking for. If an employer can tell you've half-heartedly skipped over the job advert by submitting an application that's missing valuable detail previously requested, then welcome to the reject pile! For example, we recently had loads of Finance grads apply to an IT graduate job just because it mentioned hedge funds and graduates applying to a part-time role that clearly stated it was for students still at uni. Having your application rejected from lack of attention can look really bad on your profile so don't let this be you!

During your job hunt try and show some urgency. If you're applying for jobs make sure you follow up on applications. Don't delay applying just because it's not near the application deadline date. To an employer, being keen and first off the mark are key indicators that you're made of the right stuff so let it show. Equally, knowing exactly who you have applied to is also very important. It doesn't look good if an employer replies to your application and you can't remember when you applied or what the job is. Be prepared and keep notes with you at all times, especially if you are expecting a call.

Enthusiasm. It's projected in your CV, cover letter, voice, attitude, body language, clothes - everything. Unbelievably, we still find people that look good on paper, but when we make contact they sound uninspired and unconvincing with no idea what they want to do! It's so crucial that you make a good impression as brief moments of contact can count for so much. One of the first things any consultant or employer will ask is - what do you want to do? If you don't reply with at least a confident idea of areas you are looking at it would be fair for them to question your ambition and ultimately think - why is this person applying for jobs if they haven't worked out what they want to do?

So the summer has officially arrived! With job hunting probably being the next priority, it may seem almost impossible to focus during such good weather and new found freedom. The best way to approach this is to work out a balance of work and play. Remember, only you can master your discipline so if you're feeling guilty because you haven't spent enough time job hunting then treat your job hunt like a job. Your entire education has been spent working to deadlines and when these boundaries are lifted, it can be easy for your attention to drift. To avoid this try setting yourself shifts. For example 10am - 12pm job hunting, followed by a break outside enjoying the sun, before coming back to do another few hours in the evening. Routine is the key here - don't job hunt outside of your hours and do nothing but search and apply for jobs during them. Over time, you will be amazed how productive you've become in those slots solely because you know you have to make it count!

Networking is a sure way to generate leads for job hunting and it's also a fantastic skill to have as an employee. Sure it can come easier to some people than for others, but if you're presented with an opportunity to meet a great contact face to face, here are some ground rules: Never ask for a job, ask for information - the subtle, rapport building approach will always reveal answers. Don't take up too much of their time - no one wants to be remembered as being an inconvenience so be conscious of what they could be doing. Give them a chance to speak - if you don't then you'll never learn anything. Create a vehicle for follow-up - if you want to maintain the relationship you need to create an opportunity for you to touch base again, such as offering to email or call them about something they are interested in. Build common ground and your indirect job search will open up with every new contact you speak to.

Whether it's a brief meeting with your careers service, approaching a stand at a careers fair or attending an interview make sure you are getting the most out of the situation. Try and anticipate the kind of conversation that will come up and prepare some relevant points to make. Be inquisitive and try and ask something original. Most employers at career fairs can find themselves answering the same questions all day and if the answers can be easily found on the company website (which you should research before) then it just makes you look unprepared. Those all important first impressions really count even if you're just speaking with someone who could advise you or point you in the right direction to find employment.

How sharp is your CV? It's one thing making your CV stand out but it's another ensuring that it reads easily and the right information jumps out from the page. As a recruiter scan reading a CV, the most important things should be easily found such as degree course, degree grade and A-levels. Only include relevant work experience and detail the highlights in bullet points. Leave nothing to question - detail dates that are chronologically watertight. Your interests/hobbies section can really be the only part of your CV that's written in full sentences and paragraphs. Don't ever attempt to pad out content to make it look like you've done more as all that does is make it harder for the recruiter to extract the facts. When you're looking over hundreds of CVs everyday the last thing you have time to do is to read bulk text so if you stretch out information in this way it may get overlooked.

When searching or applying for jobs what mindset are you in? Are you just looking for a job or are you looking for a career? This is a question all recruiters will be trying to suss out as early as possible in the recruitment process. They'll be trying to find someone who is looking long term, a person who is really serious and committed to the idea of working in their industry. With this in mind you must be doing everything you can to convince them of this and equally, not applying to jobs that you don't feel passionate about.

We understand that this time can be a difficult to work on job hunting due to exam revision or final projects due all at once - don't let this get the better of you. Focus on remaining calm and not letting this overwhelm you to a point that you lose sight of your job application plans. Things might seem tough to manage at the moment but in the world of work you will face these demanding times on a weekly basis so take it with passion, skill and grace so with everyday you'll become stronger, more confident in your ability and ultimately more employable. If you need a break from revision, why not print out the latest jobs from our feeds to give your eyes a rest from the screen. You can get links to every feed from the orange RSS Feed triangle logo on the folders of our homepage.

"If there is one thing that can be really frustrating in graduate recruitment it has to be finding someone who looks perfect for the job and not being able to get in touch with them. We dread to think how many missed opportunities have drifted past over the years so lets not let it happen to you. Foremost, make sure you update us with another email address if you are using a uni one that's about to expire (log in and update us now. Don't have a log in but have an account? Read "Existing Registrations"). Secondly ensure we have the most up to date telephone number for you - remember if we can't speak to you we can't put you forward and do our job!"

"Now the end of the academic year is approaching it would be a good idea to secure your references so you know that if called upon, they will be happy to recommend you. Bettering that, get a hard copy signed by them - it will really speed up the job offer process if you can present this at interview and also show that you're organised. Your reference normally comes from a tutor/lecturer or an employer whilst at university. It might sound obvious but make sure you pick people that you've worked hard for and you know you get on with!"

"You may or may not be familiar with this term but an "elevator pitch" is a phrase to describe when you literally have 20 seconds to sell yourself or product. You never know who you may meet and when so in a graduate's case this pitch is a vital selling tool which you must perfect. Your content should outline who you are, what you do and why you're good at it. Ultimately the use of this pitch will make you come across as confident, focused and your passion unquestionable - a very important characteristic for employers trying to avoid the people that are looking at their industry as a second or third choice. You could also use this as your opening personal statement on your CV."

"Are you asking the right questions? As we've said in the past - interviews are a two way process however there are some things you could accidentally hint which might bring doubt to your application. In its most obvious form this would be any question related to the role/company that was covered on the job specification/website - make sure you read everything extensively. Making sure they believe the role is perfect for you is the number one priority so don't ask questions about travelling or re-locating if you know the role hasn't suggested any aspect of it or hint at certain skills you would like to use when you know they are unrelated. Other questions like how much holiday do I get? or how often does everyone go out? could make you look unfocused."

On a side note GRB are looking for questions from candidates to ask in a graduate employer poll. It must be a multiple choice question so they can vote and you will be accredited for it on our website! Submit your question here.

"It's firmly believed that if you want to guarantee success in this market you should always be on the look out to over-deliver. Remember, the expectations of a company are what they see as a benchmark so the people that come through the ranks are the ones that always look to blow away the competition through acts of sheer confidence and skill with the ability to bring evolution to standards. So how can you achieve this? Well one way is to first understand the needs of a role/company. Work out what ultimately is the end goal (usually revenue!) and come up with ways how you can not just support this requirement but actually better it using your skills. This understanding is crucial when writing your cover letters and even more so at interview"

"For an employer or consultant one of the most talked about "pet-hates" has to be the way in which some candidates choose to communicate. For example you should never be using the title "mate" when referring to them - "cheers mate" or "catch ya later mate" is just not the way to address people you a) don't know and b) are working with on a professional level. The same goes for using text language in emails like "thanx 4 ur email. every1 thinks id b really gud 4 this job". Also - smiley faces, joke email addresses and silly voicemails are a big no no! All these things are fine among friends but look very unprofessional in the graduate market and can really put people off - make sure you're projecting the right first impression."

'Now Easter is nearly upon us most of you will be on your term break. Surprisingly during these periods we normally see activity slow down as most students choose to either take it easy or tie up deadlines. If you're the savvy type you'll be using this gap to your advantage by re-assessing yourself and getting back into the job scene. Try taking one or two days out to look through feedback, read back through your CVs, work out where you have been looking and form a new direction which you haven't tried. Searching for a job online can be laborious when there is so much to get through, but in this marketplace it's still an absolute necessity if you want to find a good selection to apply to - especially if you're preferences are quite particular. Remember to always take notes on the different places you search, what industries are looking for, the jobs they have and the advice they may give - but form your own conclusions. It's these notes that can be re-worked back into your job search to help you become more refined.'

'CVs are not just about academic content. Presentation and individuality play a very important role as well - have you really thought about what you're putting out there? Some ideas for an original CV could include a link to your website (if you have one like a portfolio or blog), mention of industry related media you follow or have recently seen that impressed you, links to inspiration/articles or any evidence of your involvement in impressive projects that are just out of the ordinary - obviously nothing completely unrelated! Another thing to remember is that recruiters have to sift through a lot of CVs so make sure the entire document is not too wordy (two pages). Bullet point wherever possible and take out any unessential text. Write an opening statement of three or four lines positioned as the first thing they read. In it you should outline your career ambitions and why your skills are suited so they can instantly build a picture of who you are - think about it carefully to avoid sounding like everyone else.'

'With the spring season almost upon us it's time to set some dates in your diary for the wave of career fairs that fall over the coming months. Career fairs should be seen as a vital ingredient in your search so find out when your university and neighbouring universities are holding theirs as well as any national ones close by. Look into who's attending by either asking the organisers or visiting their website and get some background research done so you can impress on the day. Don't you wish that you could be given the chance to stand out from the pile of CVs employers have on their desk? Well you can because they'll be standing right in front of you! GRB are off to London tomorrow for our first one of the year and you can find out more details here.'

'Always make sure you are consistent at every stage of the recruitment process. From ensuring you have no unexplained gaps of time between jobs on your CV, through to giving the same answers at interview to similar questions you answered in your application. Not all interviewers will give you a real grilling on contradiction or inconsistency but most of them will home in on it in one way or another. Be sure you can always explain things from every angle, give factual answers and keep every detail on your application at the forefront of your mind.'

'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