When searching for graduate jobs, you will come across a whole host of information, some of which may provide very useful hints and tips and others perhaps not. It is important to critically evaluate anything you read and think whether the advice seems applicable to you.
Nowadays the internet is a much more reliable source of information with many online recruitment websites and most companies providing details about their service lines. If the information is factual, i.e. statistics about the industry or specific details about a company, then you should probably take it at face value and use the information to help your overall understanding.
However, problems arise when people's opinions are provided. You might check one website, which asserts something strongly but another one, which completely disagrees. Indeed, it is mainly with respect to soft skills that people have different views. For example, some may say that once you have submitted an application form, you should wait until the employer contacts you. On the other hand, there is no harm in being slightly more assertive and contacting the company to check the status of your application.
There are a few other areas where you may need to use your judgment when reading information from different sources. Some would say that you should take the first interview slot that you are given to show your enthusiasm. However, it may be better to arrange a later time when you will be more prepared, or a date when you do not have many other commitments. There is also some conflicting advice regarding asking employers about salaries. On the one hand, it is useful to know where you stand upfront, but on the other, you do not want to show the company that money is your sole motivation, since this may detract from your genuine interest in the career.
Overall, it is vital to trust your instinct when searching for graduate jobs and also discuss any queries you have with someone more experienced. It is quite easy to read one thing and then get worried that you are not up to the mark. Therefore, it is important to use websites for factual information about the company and industry, but then consult a wide variety of sources to build up a more realistic picture of the type of applicant that companies wish to have.
