Being a recent graduate can be pretty scary; we're told we must be driven, successful, yet we are the generation bombarded with conflicting messages about our future career chances. Self-help guides advise 'tweet yourself to a better job', while the Daily Mail screams 'There are NO jobs'. Times aren't easy, in fact they never really were, but it's within our grasp to equip ourselves the best we can before we start the journey. With the right mind set, and a few helpful tips, you could find that you enjoy the investment of time it undoubtedly takes to get the career you want. One thing is for sure, these are the days when savvy pays, because if you don't have it, someone else will. Here are five invaluable tips to help you form your own future, because it is possible and you do not have to settle.
1. Get involved (Experience matters):
The Country's piggy bank has long since been broken and businesses across all industries are cutting costs wherever they can. This is not great news for creative freelancers but is wonderful for the new or soon-to-be graduate; it means you're more likely to be given the chance to show what you can do. Yes, you probably won't get paid for your work but if you're smart about it, you can gain much more value for your time. Skills are increasingly important and getting involved with businesses, the council, the local newspaper and perhaps most valuable of all, your Chamber of Commerce, means that you can build your skill set, make contacts and develop a better understanding of the career path you want to take. If you're passionate about writing, photography, IT, event organising, this will be perfect for you, as you'll get to do what you enjoy, gain experience and get yourself noticed. Many of these events are fun and some even have free food and wine, so it doesn't all have to be about hard graft.
Often if you get involved with the local sectors e.g. the digital/ charitable communities, you will get to go along to events you would otherwise be denied access to. This then leads to the most invaluable job seeking verb: NETWORK. Show the local business community who you are, what you have to offer and just how prepared you are to go the extra mile. This is impressive and you want to impress.
2. Show you care:
"Find out everything you can about your potential employer" is a line well spoken. Obviously this is important, for the retention of dignity if nothing else.
Case Study: I once went for an interview with the Editor in Chief of a magazine I had never read. It occurred to me in the five minutes of waiting time (always be early for an interview) that I should probably know at least something about the publication and its content. I had just enough time to read a couple of restaurant reviews before being called in for question time; when he asked me what I would improve about the magazine, all I could say was, "Well, most of the restaurants you review are a bit pricey." They had a whole section on eating well on a budget, I just hadn't read it. No job, no pride=seriously lacking.
Showing you care is more than just doing your research, it's about finding something in the organisation or role that you can be passionate about. What's the company trying to achieve? How are they meeting their goals? And what could be done to progress in the future? Be creative; think about how you can be an asset to the company and don't be afraid to show them. The Managing Editor of Huffington Post UK only got the job because she called her connections at AOL and persuaded them they needed an Editor. Being a little bit cheeky can really pay off, employers know that if their employees care about the business/brand, they will work all the harder to make sure it's a success.
3. Shake it up to stand out:
Employers get hundreds of CVs, if yours was lucky enough to survive the proverbial online 'waste basket' then you want to make ultra-sure that you are more impressive than everyone else who has applied. Think about what impresses you and do it. Whether that means buying Rosetta Stone and learning Mandarin or doing voluntary work in Mongolia.
Have fun with it.
What about money? I hear you say. The whole reason we're here in the first place, right? There are many things you can do to stand out without having to spend a pound. Think about what's lacking in your town; do you have a review website? Is there enough community work happening? Are there opportunities for fund raising or social enterprise? Use your time wisely. If you love watching movies, why not set up a blog reviewing latest releases and then make it the first port of cinematic advice for your area. Wordpress, Wix and Blogspot are free, easy to use and best of all, they give you something more than just a CV to show an employer.
Technological skills are also vital and if you understand HTML or CSS, you will be an asset. If coding isn't up your alley - to be fair, it's hardly riveting stuff - then a good grasp of all of the Microsoft programs as well as Adobe, if you can afford/get your hands on the creative suite, is also exceptionally useful. Many roles will need at least a moderate grasp of IT and the more you practice, the easier it will be when you get the job you want.
4. Be more than Facebook connected:
Tim Arthur, Editor in Chief of Time Out said that he always looks at an applicant's last ten tweets before offering them an interview. Social media is a fantastic tool for graduates searching for a career. Twitter allows you to interact with prospective employers and people you admire/are interested in, in a way that has never been before. Make sure you follow people you like or people in the industry you want to go into. What are they chatting about? Get involved in the conversation. Re-tweet articles of interest, get yourself noticed by asking questions and giving opinions (be careful to keep on the side of interested/interesting and away from creepy stalker territory). Most importantly, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU TWEET. Don't write about your night of debauchery, no one needs to know about your ham and egg sandwich either. Think about the image you want to present because you never know who may be listening.
Linked in is also a very valuable tool for networking, you can join groups and meet people in your area of interest. If you have any questions, this is a great chance to ask the experts and make the most of the tips they give. We all love Facebook, apply a portion of the (border-line unhealthy) time invested in Facebook into Linked in and Twitter.
5. Presentation matters:
This is more than just how you look; it comes down to an attitude. Instead of just thinking about the person you want to be, BE the person you want to be. The more confidence you gain in yourself and your abilities, the more this will come across when you meet potential employers. This is not easy but if you invest your time wisely, you will find that pride in yourself comes as a natural bi-product. Nobody said that it would be easy, but it can be fun and it will be rewarding.
