The end of University can be a difficult time for any graduate, with the last 15 years spent in education, the move to the world of work can understandably feel like a daunting task, however, it doesn’t need to be!
We’ve collated, what we believe, are the best top tips for graduates, to help you secure your dream job and enhance your chances of employment.
All experience is good experience
Once you have committed to following a career within the banking and finance sector you should begin to examine the roles in which you would like to progress within. It is important to gain experience wherever you can, no role is too small, or beneath you. Take this opportunity to learn as many aspects of the industry as you can to really get a feel for the different types of roles available to find the one that will suit you best.
It has been reported that 36% of graduate roles have been filled by candidates that have previously worked within that organisation, with figures increasing to 75% in the banking sector. It is evident that work experience is essential, don’t be afraid to take unpaid work experience, this shows your passion for your future career and your willingness to go to great lengths in order to progress.
Don’t lose sight of your end goal
The competition for graduate jobs has always been incredibly high, it is important then when leaving university you have a clear and concise plan of action. It is normal within your job hunt for this plan to change course, however, as long as you keep clear, the end goal, you will always strive to accomplish it.
Feedback is your friend
Although the competition for graduate jobs is increasingly high, a candidate who has a higher level in their degree or more experience in the role may not ultimately be the reason that you don’t get selected for further interviews, it is therefore important to completely understand why you may not be successful, in this instance feedback is crucial.
Interview critique will ultimately lead to improvements, understanding where exactly you’re going wrong will ensure you don’t continue to make mistakes in future interviews, again increasing your employability chances.
Monitor your Social Media behaviour
As social media grows, so does the need to be extra vigilant in regards to privacy settings. Whether you’re in employment or job hunting, your social media profiles could be detrimental to your success if employers find behaviour they would not deem professional.
Make the most of professional platforms. During your time at university, you should have been introduced to the professional social media platform LinkedIn, this platform is popular with both companies and recruiters, and when job hunting you should proactively be looking for new opportunities and ensuring your profile is regularly kept up to date for recruiters to easily access your information.
Networking
Networking is a great way of getting noticed within an industry. Make the most of any recruitment networking events you can; recruitment networking events have become increasingly popular with recruitment agencies, so make sure you research the best ones for your sector and begin to make contacts. Professional bodies for different sectors are also opting for these types of events, bringing companies and candidates together.
Do your research
Once you’ve secured an interview, the research starts. It is important that you put in as much effort as possible for each and every interview, it may be time-consuming and repetitive, however, being underprepared could be the difference between securing a job or losing it.
You should retain as much information as you can about the company you’re interviewing for; include information on their client, specific projects, any awards they may have received, a detailed description of the services they offer and any relevant news that may affect the company.
You should then research into the role you’re interviewing for, you need to understand the different roles and responsibilities that would be expected of you, and try, if you can, to have examples of previous working or educational experiences that would be relevant.
Searching for the right job takes time, but the end result is most definitely worth the wait, be persistent, work hard for the right role for you and use the setbacks to develop your interview skills and you’re sure to find the right position.