7 tips to boost your job search and career prospects as a recent graduate

Careers, Jobsearch, Jobseekers / 19 September 2023

Your university days are over and you’re keen to land that dream job. While you may feel that the world is your oyster now you have your degree, finding a job as a new graduate can be a challenge. The main reason is that you’re not the only new graduate on the block. Thousands of other freshly graduated individuals are going through the same job search process.

This period of time, between graduating and starting your new job, doesn’t have to turn into a job application slog. Instead, there are plenty of steps you can take to stand out from the graduate crowd. Here are seven tips to boost your job search and career prospects as a recent graduate.

Set realistic and achievable goals

Before you begin your job search, it’s important to have a clear picture of what you want to achieve and the steps you can take to get there. One of the easiest ways to do that is to create a career plan.

A career plan helps you to break down your goals into measurable steps and clearly see whether you’re still on the right path to land that job. It also helps you to stay focussed on the right steps while maintaining your motivation.

Before you can create your career plan, you first need to know:

where you are right now, for example, qualifications, work experience, skills, lifestyle and responsibilities, and work preferences
where you want to go, for instance, the job you want to land and the employer or sector you’re interested in
how you will get there, for example, search for suitable jobs on LinkedIn and Joblookup

With that information in hand, you can begin to write your career plan, including the following sections:

Personal overview

This section is similar to a CV objective. Both are a statement that lays out your employment goals. It should include your personal drives, skills, and the career progression you want to achieve.

Here’s an example:

As a recent computer science graduate, I am seeking an entry-level position in software development where I can apply my programming skills and passion for technology to develop innovative solutions.

Education and experience

Write down all your qualifications and work experience in this section. You could also include experience gained through volunteering, hobbies, and your studies. It doesn’t matter if your work experience isn’t relevant to the job you are looking for.

Goals and steps

This section includes what you want to achieve and the steps you must take to reach each goal. One way to ensure that your goals and steps are realistic is to use the SMART method.

Your goals should include:

short term goals (the next three to six months)
mid term goals (up to two years from now)
long term goals (up to five years or more from now)

Generally, your short term goals will lead to the achievement of your mid and long term goals.

Example short-term goals:
Spend an hour each week searching job boards, LinkedIn, and local press for vacancies to apply for.

Example mid term goal:
Start my first graduate job.

Create a personal online brand

Most people are social-media savvy these days, and that includes recruiters and employers. When you apply for a job, it may not simply be your CV, cover letter, and references that the employer looks over. They may also search for you online. That’s why it’s important to have a personal online brand.

A personal brand is how you present yourself to potential employers and showcase your individual value. You can create a personal brand by building a professional presence on relevant social media platforms like LinkedIn.

Work on your CV and cover letter

Your CV and cover letter are the first impressions that employers will have of you. They should highlight your relevant skills, achievements, and experiences that match the job requirements. You should tailor your CV and cover letter to each job you apply for, using keywords and phrases from the job description. You should also proofread them carefully to avoid any spelling or grammatical errors.

Don’t worry if this is your first job and your CV looks empty. Even with no work experience, your CV can still attract an employer’s eye. The key to creating a CV when you don’t have much, or any, work experience is to focus on the transferable skills you’ve developed through your education, achievements, interests, and life experience.

Example transferable skills:

teamwork
research and analysis
communication

Research employers and careers

You might know the type of job you’re interested in but why not take that focus further by researching:

the career path that job can take you on
average salaries for that job
which companies employ people in that job
what a typical job description looks like for that job

You should also use this time to research employers that you’re interested in and their competitors. Visit their website, social media, and appearances in the news to get a well-rounded view of each company.

Practice your interview skills

Like any form of practice, brushing up on your interview skills will build your confidence and give you a better understanding of what to expect in a real interview scenario. There are several ways you can practice your interview skills:

Self preparation: consider the type of questions you may face, including common interview questions for graduates and questions that are more specific to the role and industry. Write down your answers then practice saying these answers aloud.
Mock interviews: ask a friend or family member to mock interview you.
University career service: many university career services offer mock interviews and other resources to help you prepare.
Online resources: do an online search for interview preparation resources like this virtual interview practice from Barclays Bank.

Build your professional network

It isn’t too early to begin building your professional network before you land your first graduate role. The easiest way to start is to set up a LinkedIn account, optimise your profile, and begin connecting with individuals who work for the companies you’re interested in and/or already have the type of job you want to land. You can also connect with recruiters.

If there is a professional body for your intended career path, for instance, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Law Society, or the British Computer Society, register an account, create a profile, and take full advantage of their resources.

Attend relevant networking events, both online and in-person, to connect with professionals in your field of interest. You can also learn about the latest trends and developments in your industry and meet potential employers.

Work on your skills and experience

Self development is another step you can take to improve your chances as a jobseeker. Here are the areas that you could work on:

Skills: Investigate the skills listed in job descriptions for the vacancies you’re interested in. Do you have all the necessary skills listed? If not, could you learn about this skill?
Industry knowledge: Are you up to date with developments in your industry or sector of choice? How can you find out about recent developments?
Personality: Taking a personality test like the Enneagram or Myers Brigg can help you to understand your own strengths and weaknesses, personality traits, and work preferences.
Work experience: While you look for a permanent job, can you gain work experience through temporary work or volunteering?

Wrapping it up

When you’re fresh out of university, landing your first graduate job can seem like a distant goal but there are plenty of ways you can improve your career prospects and stand out from the crowd. Create realistic but achievable goals in a career plan. Set up a professional online presence. Work on your CV and cover letter. Research the employers and careers that interest you. Brush up on your interview skills. Build a network of professional contacts. Work on your skills, experience, and self development. Soon enough, you’ll be starting your new job and heading down that ideal career path. Good luck.