Career guides to help you find the job you love

All University students have highexpectations when it comes to gradcareers and some may even be looking forward to starting one when theyfinish their studying. However, reality can hit hard.

Employment rates for graduates in the UKare quite high, with the graduate employment rate sitting at 87.7% in 2018. Thetrend for employment rates indicates an increase across all qualificationgroups – however, the rise is the greatest amongst non-graduates.

So, what happened to the other 12% ofgraduates? Well it could be that they are just not prepared for life at workafter life at University. Many universities try and combat this by offeringadvice and career counselling services to help students to prepare for grad positions – however, studentsneed to remember that a lot of their success depends on their actions.

Your successful career starts atUniversity, so you need to start preparing for it right now.

Don’t know how to? Let’s show you:

#1 Take advantage of placementprogrammes at University

Many Universities offer industrial placementsor sandwich years for students but how do they work?

Placements are structured programmes ofwork which entail a student spending an academic year working for a business aspaid employee, before returning to University to complete the final year oftheir degree. They are a great way for students to gain valuable workexperience and skills before they graduate.

They can be a great way to get your foot onthe ladder as the company you work for may decide you are future talent, anduse the time to expose you to their culture and team ethics. You will start toget familiar with your potential future colleagues and work surroundings if youdecide to join after you have completed your degree.

Getting professional work experience likethis can be invaluable to you when you are searching for grad careers. A lot ofUniversity degrees these days are very theory based which can leave employersworried that students will lack the skills and practical knowledge needed whenit comes to the world of work. If the employer sees an industrial placement onyour CV though, they will know that you have some experience of work and sothey will know you are work-ready.

#2 Volunteer or undertake an internship

Internships are similar to placements asthey are paid, but they usually only last between one and four months (usuallyin the summer holidays). Again, they can be a great way to find out what it islike to work for a particular company, or to work in a particular sector.

Internships can be a great way to learn theculture of a company, the company values, how to operate certain software andequipment, what it is like to work for different sizes of organisations, andalso how to collaborate across teams.

Volunteering is also another way to getsome work experience, but you won’t be paid for it. However, employers tend tolook kindly on volunteer experiences as they can help to shape a student’sindividuality by encouraging them to participate in selfless acts which canalso teach them reliability, responsibility and selflessness.

#3 Start working on your professionalimage creatively

As well as taking on an industrialplacement, volunteering or even an internship there are other more creativeways you can use to help improve your professional image. The best way to do thisis to work as a freelancer, creating websites for example, or tutoring.

Freelancing won’t work for all careers ofcourse, for example if you want to be a Dr you can’t really freelance as one.However, you can showcase your skills in other ways, by writing a blog forexample. Blogging on your specific subject areas is a great way to show yourprofessional knowledge as well as offering advice to other students in yourfield. Blogs can show future employers your creative side, and show that youare a person who can think outside the box.

Conclusion

Following all of these tips won’t guaranteeyou land a job after graduating, but they will improve your CV and help youfeel more confident when applying for gradopportunities. They will also help you if you have graduated butaren’t sure what career path to take.

Good luck! 

Job hunting forgraduates can be tough. You only need to take a brief look at our site to seethat there are lots of currentjob vacancies for graduates to choose from. If you are trying to study for your finals, trawlingthough all the available jobs might seem a little daunting and some days youmay feel you are going around in circles.

When you aresending out lots of applications it can be easy to do the bare minimum in orderto show the potential employer that you meet the criteria of what they arelooking for. However, competition is so tough for each role at the moment, thatyou are going to have to go above and beyond to make sure you stand out fromthe crowd. Think about it like this, the way you handle the application processis one way of showing potential employers how you will handle the world of work– and so the more effort you put in, the better.

Take a deep breath, exhale, and let us help you get out of the rut you have found yourself in. We will show you eight ways to find the perfect job vacancy for fresh graduate like yourself.

Tip One:Network online

LinkedIn is notthe most popular social media platform among students, we know that, but itshould be if you are starting your graduate job hunt. Employers will think it’sgreat if you are already on there as a student, because it shows them that youare interested in the world of work. Don’t get ahead of yourself and startsending connection invites to all and sundry – this is the quickest way to getblocked! Instead, join a few relevant groups for the industry you areinterested in and comment on any relevant posts and you will start to buildyour connections naturally. The other thing you can do is to follow anycompanies you are interested in, and comment on their posts too.

Tip Two:Network with your family and friends

One of the mostpopular methods of recruitment these days is referral, as this is a great wayfor them to get access to employees who have been recommended by existingtrusted employees. So, to use this to your advantage you need to talk to yourfriends and family members who are already in employment in industries that areof interest to you. This can help you to find out about upcoming job vacanciesbefore they are advertised and can put you at an additional advantage if theperson will also recommend you.

Tip Three:Use search to your advantage

We shouldn’t needto tell you that the job market is evolving continually, and so there areprobably some jobs out there that you haven’t even heard of. Do you know what agrowth hacker is, for example, or a UX designer?  It is worth spending a little bit of timesearching different sectors on Jobs for Graduates so that you are aware of whattype of roles are out there, and whether any of them are right for you.

One benefit ofthis, is that if you do decide to go down a career path that is not traditionalfor your chosen field of study then you may face less competition and so therewill be more opportunities open to you.

Tip Four: Beconfident

As we talkedabout in the introduction, the way you handle the application process andinterview will tell the employer a lot about you. For example, if you send in astandard CV and copy & pasted cover letter you won’t make anywhere near asgood an impression as someone who has emailed a senior member of staff to seeif they could meet for coffee to find out more about the role.

If you do go downthis route, though, you need to make sure you have done some serious in-depthresearch on the company. The last thing you want is to be caught out notknowing a lot about the company and why it is you want to work there – as thenall of your effort will be in vain!

Tip Five:Try an internship

If you are unsureof exactly what route you want to go down, then trying it out on an internshipis a great way to figure out whether it is for you or not. You definitelyshouldn’t undertake an unpaid internship, however, as they are against the law,

If the idea ofgetting some work experience before deciding which career is for you, then whynot get in touch with the company you want to work for and see if they can helpyou out with a short-term internship. You won’t get paid much, probably but youwill pick up some invaluable experience and make some contacts who may beuseful in your career later on. You may even end up with a paid position at theend of it if you impress.

Tip Six: Usea recruitment site

Scanning throughtons of websites trying to find just the right position can be hard work, butwe have done it all for you. Here at Jobs for Graduates we actively search forgraduate jobs on your behalf – helping you to find the right one for you muchmore quickly and efficiently.

Tip Seven:Check out some career’s fairs

Careers fairs area great way to meet some of the bigger companies face to face (and usually getsome freebies too). They will have paid for the stall in order to speak to jobseekers like yourself, so make sure you take full advantage of thisopportunity. You should use your local career fair as a networking event, speakto lots of companies in the industry you are interested in, and chat to themabout the application process, opportunities and so on. Make sure you take anote of the name and email of everyone you meet, and send them a follow upemail to say thank you for their time – another sure fire way to impress.

Tip Eight:Work for yourself

You don’t have toleave University and go and work for someone else – you can always work foryourself. There are lots of websites out there that have been set up to helppeople who are thinking about doing something like this – and they will giveyou excellent advice and support if you are thinking of starting up.

If you arelooking for the latestvacancy for graduatesthen look no further – Jobs for Graduates has all the opportunities you need.

Job Vacancies For Graduates – Your Questions Answered

We know that looking for job vacancies for graduates can be tricky – especially when you take into account salaries, tricky interview questions and virtual reality. So, we’ve pulled together some of the top questions we get asked on a regular basis to help you to get your career off the ground.

How long will ittake me to get a Graduate Job?

How long is a piece of string? You have to keep looking at job vacancies for graduates and applying for these roles on a regular basis. If you are in your final year and studying for your exams, then this can seem like a daunting prospect. The best way to do it, therefore, is to take a strategic approach focusing on targeting your applications rather than sending off as many as possible. After all, you should be tailoring each application to each employer, and this is going to take some time.

One of the biggest favours you can do for yourself, is to take a little time to work out how to translate your extra-curricular activities,  part time work and studying into the sort of transferable skills that employers are looking for. Being able to demonstrate qualities such as communication, motivation and time management will help you present yourself in the best light in interviews.

Keep an eye on our blog over the coming months, as we will be covering subjects such as the skills you need to get a job when you graduate, how to show employees your strengths, and how to structure your job hunt.

What are employers looking for in 2019?

A lot of the recruiters we talk to tell us that motivation is very important to them – they want you to demonstrate that you are generally interested in them as an employer and the role they areoffering, and you will have to prove that to them in the interview. Employers are also looking for people with work experience, particularly those who have interned with them already as they already have a feel for the company.

What can we expect from the graduaterecruitment process in 2019?

Almost all graduate employees use online application forms as part of their graduate recruitment process.  They know very well that the application process can be time-consuming for students, who may be time poor due to study commitments, and so they are looking at ways to speed this up – so you may not be asked to attach a CV anymore, or you may notice that some employers application forms are a lot shorter than others.

Some graduate employers are now experimenting with video interviews which candidates can find challenging – but at least you can fit them in at a time that is most suitable for you. Employers are also using online aptitude tests earlier on in the process – and there is now a trend towards using online games as part of this. Virtual reality is also being tested as part of the assessment process and you may be asked to wear a VR headset to immerse yourself in a situation where you have to respond.

What kind of questions will I be askedin interview?

Whether it is a face to face interview, a phone interview, or a video interview – it is highly likely that you will be asked a set of competency-based questions, where you will be asked how you can demonstrate a particular skill. However, many employers combine this with other approaches, so you may find yourself answering a variety of questions focusing on your strengths and technical skills as well.

How much are you likely to earn?

A recent report suggested that graduates earnt around £22,399 on average nowadays, up from £21,766 last year. This could be because there are less graduates coming out of Universities these days, so employers are competing in a smaller talent pool. As we have said before, your starting salary will depend on the career you choose, so you may want to look at what you could earn in different careers before you make your choice.

Where will I work?

London is the biggest hotspot for graduate recruitment – which shouldn’t come as a surprise – with other popular places including: Birmingham, Glasgow, Kent, Leeds, Manchester and Surrey. Jobs4Graduates is one of the leading graduate jobwebsites in the UK – containing all of the information you need to land the perfect graduate role for you.

Understanding thedifference between an entry-level job, a graduate scheme and graduate level jobs is vital if you want to ensure you get thecareer you want.

As a student youprobably feel there is a maze of options open to you as you look at what valueyour degree will have in the market place when you leave University. How do youdecide what it is you want to do? There are so many graduate careersavailable out there, how do you clarify the choices you have ahead of you?

There are some keyquestions you need to start asking yourself – and although some of thesequestions may sound the same they are anything but. First things first – whatwill you do when you graduate from University?

• Get a jobas a graduate?
• Get agraduate job?
• Land aplace on a graduate scheme/graduate training/graduate programme?
• Get an entry-leveljob? 

Ok, lets take a closerlook at some of these terms and clarify what they mean – so you can see whatthe real differences are. Let’s start by thinking about exactly what isimportant to you when you graduate:

I want a professionI can only join if I am a Graduate

You most likelyanswered ‘get a graduate job’ or ‘land a place on a graduate scheme’ to thequestion above. You will then be looking at careers where a degree is astandard entry requirement and so need to look at conversion courses or otherroutes to join the profession. On the other hand, you may want to join a largecompany or public sector organisation with a graduate scheme, offering youtraining and development opportunities on the job.

I want a careerwhere I become accredited or chartered, and work towards being admitted to aprofessional body

You have grand designsfor your life and will probably have chosen ‘land a place on a graduate scheme’to the question above. There are lots of graduate schemes, graduate programmesand graduate training programmes available within the UK- and we will bediscussing some of these more in future blog posts.

I want a job thatfeels appropriate for my skills and interests

You most likely choseanswer ‘I want to get a job as a Graduate’ to the question above so you willneed to think carefully and plan accordingly for this step to help you on yourway in your career. You may well get a job that does not require a degree, butyou could use this as a stepping stone to help you to gain experience in yourchosen sector which will help you to progress into a more senior role.

I want anyentry-level job I can get

An entry-level job isa job that is suitable for anyone who has no skills or experience in theirchosen area. A degree may be an advantage in some entry-level jobs, but yourdegree does not have to be relevant to the job and the job may also be open toschool leavers as well.

Getting an entry-leveljob could be a bit of a risky strategy as although it may be nice to be earningmoney straightaway, they may not help you to get the career that you dream of –you don’t want to sell yourself short at the end of the day.

So, you can see,understanding the difference between a graduate job and a graduate scheme isessential to helping you decide what you want to set your sights on and how toplan your job hunt.

What is a graduatescheme then?

A graduate scheme istypically a time-limited training programme which lasts between one and threeyears. It is based on the employer’s template for producing an appropriatelyqualified professional that will fit into their organisation seamlessly. They willbe a highly structured programme consisting of work, in-house training andstudy for an external qualification.

Typically, you willfind graduate schemes in accountancy firms, construction firms and banks. Itmay well be that you rotate through different departments in the same businesson one of these schemes, so that they can discover where you will best fit. Youwill also be likely to have to work towards an accredited qualificationrelating to the professional body for your chosen occupation.

You can be acceptedonto a graduate scheme with a 2:2 degree – depending on the career area.

What is a graduatejob?

A graduate job coversa wider area than a graduate scheme and is the term used to describe jobs whichyou won’t be hired for unless you have an honours degree. Getting a Graduatejob does not mean that you will be enrolled on a structured programme ofprofessional training – it does not have the ‘scheme’ element.

The list of jobs whichare graduate-only tend to be shorter than graduate scheme jobs. They tend toinclude professions such as Doctor, Teacher, Journalist and IT. You can entersome of these roles without a degree, strictly speaking, but generally having adegree is usually an advantage.

Is having a degree aguarantee to a higher salary? Well the Office of Natural Statistics states thatthe average graduate earns £9500 more than the average non-graduate. However,it can take time for a graduate to establish themselves in their career, andtherefore start earning the big bucks. Salaries will also vary across careerniche as well.

What if your firstgraduate job turns out to be a dud?

Don’t be surprised ifyour first graduate job turns out to be something you don’t really want or nota traditional graduate job. Even if you are working in retail or a fast foodrestaurant, you can learn essential skills and valuable lessons that will helpyou to succeed in your future applications. Hereat Jobs4Graduates, we want to make life as easy for you as possible so we haverounded up all of the available graduate jobs, graduate schemes and graduateroles london for you.

So, you’ve finished your degree, waved goodbye to University and are ready for your first foray into the world of work. If you haven’t followed our advice and got a graduate job yet then don’t worry, you can look at doing graduate internships instead, as these could provide you with the necessary skills and experience perspective employers are looking for.

Work experience is fast becoming an essential experience for students to have, as more and more employees are using this as a deciding factor when it comes to offering graduate roles. Graduate opportunities therefore give you a competitive edge over other candidates.

What is an internship?

An internship is a period of employment offered to students by employers in order to give them a taste of working life which relates to their field of study. They can vary in length from a week to 12 months. Many internships are unpaid, but it is important to know what your rights are before you start.

The advantage of doing an internship isthat you will develop a lot of so-called soft skills which many employers findattractive. These can include things such as creative problem solving,communication skills, influencing skills, personal effectiveness andpresentation skills.

Internships are also great for helping youbuild up contacts within the industry, and you never know if you really impressyour employer, they may even offer you a permanent role. You should keepapplying for graduate roles throughout your internship though, don’t rest onyour laurels.

How do I get a graduate internship?

• Go directly to the company youwant to work for and see whether they run an internship programme. If you can’tfind anything on their website, try sending a speculative letter or emailexplaining why you want to work for them.
• Ask around within your network.Your parents may have a friend who works in the industry you want to work in,or a friend who works in a similar industry. It may not seem like astraightforward way to get an internship, but it is highly likely that someonewithin your circle will know of an opportunity that is perfect for you.
• Check out our job boards. Wehave lots of awesome intern roles for you to look through.

How to apply for a graduate internship?

When you are applying for a graduate internship, you should approach it in the same way as when you are applying for a graduate role. So, you need to tailor you CV and covering letter to the company and show them why you want to work for them and what you have to offer them.

Every application you make should showcase the qualities and skills that will make you an asset to the company. Some companies will specify exactly what they want from a graduate, but most companies are just looking for enthusiasm, an ability to work under their own ability, and who can adapt to new challenges easily.

What sort of tasks will a graduate internship involve?

Let’s get this out there right off the bat, yes there will probably be menial tasks you have to undertake such as photo copying and making the coffee. But if you can prove that you can do these tasks well and without complaining, then you will be given the opportunity to do other things. Grab the opportunity with both hands, talk to the team and find out more about the industry and they may also tell you about other opportunities or offer you some advice.

To find your next opportunity, whether it be a graduate internship or graduate jobs London take a look at our awesome job search, which you can narrow down by industry or location.

So, you are coming to the end of life at University and your parents are pressuring you to find a job! This may seem like a daunting task as there are a million and one things to consider from researching your ideal job, preparing your CV, completing numerous application forms, to nailing your interviews – the list is endless. Talking from experience, we know the best way to make sure the process doesn’t overwhelm you is to have a plan. At the risk of sounding like your dad the old quote “Fail to plan, plan to fail” is spot on! That’s what this guide is all about – helping you to plan how to find the right Graduate Jobs UK for you.  

Thefirst thing you need to do when you are looking for grad jobs is toacknowledge the fact you are going to be under a lot of pressure. You willprobably be under pressure from your parents, from your tutors, maybe even fromyour friends and from yourself. We’ve tried to make our guide as simple andeasy to follow as we can – while also being realistic. It is going to take someeffort to get your first job, yes, but it will be worth it. 

PlanAhead 

Time tostart with the basics. Break your job search down into steps and that way itwon’t overwhelm you. It also keeps you on track if you are hit with anysetbacks along the way.  So, lets break it down into five easy steps: 

StepOne: Identify What You Have to Offer 

The bestway to ensure you are successful in your graduate job hunt is to evaluateyourself and work out exactly what it is you have to offer employers. Goingthrough this process will help you so much when it comes to completing your CVand writing your cover letter.  

Theeasiest way to evaluate what you have to offer is to sit down with a sheet ofpaper and make a list of all the skills you think you have. This is not a listof jobs you have done or projects you have undertaken but the knowledge andexperience you have that you can transfer into the world of work. What is itthat is different about you? Why should the company you apply to choose youover any other graduate out there? 

Forexample, if you have done presentations to the rest of your course members aspart of your degree, then there are two skills you could write down – publicspeaking and communication.  If you have worked in groups as part of yourcourse then you can add leadership and delegation to that list, and so on. 

Youshould also think hard about any work experience you have and note this down aswell. All employers will prefer graduates with work experience, as it means youhave proven you can hold down a job, and your employer can also talk to yourprevious employer about what kind of employee you were. Even if you think yourwork experience Is not directly related to the graduate role you are applyingfor – there are ways of presenting it to make it seem more relevant.

Make anote of: 

• Your role: Startdate, job title, location and end date 
• Company details:industry, size of company, annual revenue 
• Market niche:regional or global company? Market value, market share, competition 
• What you did: whatyour responsibilities were and how your role fitted into the overall company 
• Skills: What skillswere you required to demonstrate to get the job, and what did you learn whileon the job? 
• Achievements: Didyou win any awards while working? How did you have an impact on the success ofthe company? 

Theother thing you need to think about is what you are prepared to do and what youdon’t want to do. Are you willing to relocate or not? How many hours a weekwould you like to work? Do you want to work in a sales roll or not? Are thereany industries you would not want to work in? Again, being clear on exactlywhat you want, and don’t want will make narrowing down your ideal role easier,and save you spending time and effort on getting a role you don’t really want. 

StepTwo: Hone your Commercial Awareness 

The nextstage in the graduate job search is to do some research into the type ofcompany you think you might want to apply for. Many employers find commercialawareness a very important skill for employees to have, and so showing you havethis from the start could be a way of standing out from the other graduatesapplying for the same role. After all, around 35000 people graduate from Universityeach year, and this number is rising, so the amount of graduate jobs on offerisn’t always enough to go around. 

Commercialawareness tends to refer to a person an understanding of the wider environmentin which an organisation operates, what makes the business successful, andhaving an appreciation of the factors that make the business a success. Youwill need to think about things like:

• What the companydoes, what they are known for, and how they make money.  
• What the companyoffers customers, in terms of products or services  
• Where does thecompany sit in the market? Who are their competitors? How are they differentfrom their competitors?  
• Things that arehaving an impact on the market the company is operating in, such as the priceof oil, new technological developments, and so on 

StepThree: Find the Right Role 

Thereare lots of ways to find out what graduate roles are available – and the firstplace you should start is our powerful search interface. You can search by jobtype and location to really narrow it down. You could also try career fairs oncampus, virtual careers fairs or individual employer websites. 

There isno right and wrong way to find a job, it depends on how you want to do it. Ifthere is a

companyyou want to work for try emailing them and seeing if you could meet someonethere for a coffee and a chat about any opportunities they may have – they canonly say no! You should also use your network as well take advantages of anylinks you have to the industry you want to work in.  

StepFour: Preparing Your Application 

So, nowyou have identified what you have to offer, and honed your commercialawareness, the next step is to prepare for your job search by crafting anawesome CV and writing the perfect cover letter.  

Your CVis the first thing a perspective employer will look at when considering yourapplication for a job, and so it is worth putting the effort in to make it easyto read and engaging. They will probably see thousands of CV’s daily, so keepyours short and lay out all the essential information in a way where they cangrasp it quickly and easily. If you have a lot of work experience, thenconsider adding a link to your LinkedIn profile, so that you can keep thelayout of your CV streamlined, while offering the perspective employer thechance to find out more if they want to.  

We willcover crafting the perfect CV in more detail in future blog posts, but for nowlet’s look at the basics that you need to include on it: 

• Your Name (forobvious reasons) 
• Your ContactDetails – phone number and email address 
• Personal Statement– a short summary of what you are looking for in a position and what you haveto offer. Make sure it is no longer than two sentences. 
• Work Experience –start with your most recent employer and work backwards. Include the dates youwere employed for, the name of the company you worked for, your job role, whatyour responsibilities were and what skills you demonstrated. You can alsoinclude voluntary positions in this section or add them as a separate sectionafterwards if you prefer. 
• Qualifications –list your University, the name of your course, your degree title, when youexpect to graduate and you’re A’ Level or GCSE results. 
• Skills – You canuse this section of your CV to highlight how you demonstrate any skills theperspective employer has listed in their job advert. You could also includecomputer programs you are familiar with, the fact you have a driving licence,any languages you speak and if you have experience of blogging or webdesign.  
• Interests/Hobbies –This should be a brief, focused section which showcases any interests you havethat may align with your perspective employer’s business. 
• References – It isusually acceptable to put the line “References available upon request” on yourCV – unless the job advert specifically requests details. Just make sure youhave spoken to the people you are going to use as references to make sure it isOK to give their name and contact details out.   

Once youhave nailed your CV you need to work on your cover letter. If your CV has doneits work and caught your perspective employer’s eye, then your cover letterwill back this up and cement the fact that you are the right person for thejob. Like a CV your cover letter should include the following information

• Your name, address,phone number and email 
• Company contactdetails 
• Position – thecompany may be offering several graduate positions so make sure it is clear tothem which one it is you are applying for 
• Skills – Look atthe skills you have included on your CV and expand on them by relating themback to the job description.  
• What you have tooffer – this is your chance to tell the perspective employer why you are abetter choice than any other candidate and how your long-term career goalsmatch up with the company’s long-term goals. 
• Why you want theposition – let your passion for the role and the company shine through 

StepFive: Applying for Jobs 

Graduatejobs tend to be available all year round, but if you are in the last year ofUniversity the period of September to January is vital for you. It is essentialto get in early to give yourself the best chance of getting the role you want. 

Thestandard recruitment process for graduate roles tend to follow a set process:the job is posted, CVs are screened, candidates are invited in for a firstinterview, there may be a possibility of a second interview, a job offer isthen made to the successful candidate, and they will start the job. 

A lot ofcompanies these days undertake the application process online, meaning youshould tackle the application form in the same way as your CV. Making anawesome application means using all of the information you pulled together inStep One to showcase yourself and stand out from the crowd.  

Hopefullythis guide to finding graduate jobs has helped you out a little bit. We willcover all of the subjects we mention in this graduate jobsguide in more detail with various blog posts over the coming months – so keepyour eyes out.