Top tips for new graduates

 

If you have  just graduated  then you may feel euphoric and so you should… getting to the end of  several years of study is worth celebrating.

But then back into sharp focus comes the question ‘What  do I do now?’

If you haven’t  got a job as yet then here are some tips to get started with the next stage.  

1. Vacancies -Make sure you are looking in the right places for vacancies. Have you registered with the right websites and are vacancies coming into your Inbox? If they aren’t quite right go back and check your preferences.  https://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/looking-for-a-job/find-a-job/index.aspx
2. Speculative applications – Can you identify companies that offer the kind of work you would like to do and contact them direct? You need  a CV relevant to their industry and a cover letter that states quite specifically what you want and can offer. If you don’t hear back after a week follow it up with a call. https://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/looking-for-a-job/find-a-job/speculative-applications/index.aspx
3. Networking  at business events – look out for these, research who will be there and attend with an easy to access CV . https://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/looking-for-a-job/find-a-job/networking/index.aspx
4. Attending Careers Fairs– There is a large one in central London next week. – 20th June 2018 . If you can’t attend then check out who is going to be there and look at what they are offering. https://www.londongradfair.co.uk/
5. LinkedIn – Have you set up a profile on LinkedIn and is it up to date? Make sure you show you are a graduate now. Who are you networking with? Can you build up your connections?https://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/looking-for-a-job/find-a-job/using-linkedin/index.aspx
6. Internships- Look for a paid internship to help you gain skills and work experience.  Avoid becoming a ‘serial intern’ though and use this a springboard to apply for actual jobs. https://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/looking-for-a-job/find-a-job/placements-and-internships/index.aspx
7. New skills  –  Check out what available in the way of free or inexpensive  courses in your area  that might help you gain new skills. Libraries often have details of these. Or try a course through MOOC. https://www.mooc-list.com/
8. Stop gap jobs – Take a short term job by all means to help pay off debts, keep you busy and learn new skills but keep in the ‘graduate loop’ as above and keep looking and applying for jobs. https://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/looking-for-a-job/find-a-job/index.aspx
9. Support groups – Consider forming  groups with others in your situation to offer support and networking opportunities. Keep building your network. https://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/looking-for-a-job/find-a-job/networking/index.aspx
10. Postgraduate  courses – Consider applying for a postgraduate course but think carefully about the motivations for doing this and the subject you want to study. Remember this will still involve commitment and some financial outlay and won’t guarantee you a job.  But it can help to put you into a different postion and some will offer work experience and networking as part of the course. Some courses are offered on a part time basis allowing you to work at the same time. https://www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/postgraduate-study/index.aspx

Lawrence Holmes. via Compfight