10 Commandments

10 Commandments for Graduate Job Hunting

Cold Facts in the UK economy at present:

• 1 in 3 graduates are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Those lucky enough to find paid work will start at 3% lower than they would have in 2011, despite inflation.
• Huge numbers of job roles posted on graduate job boards are in fact unpaid internships (majority of which are quite illegal).

The fact is we have 1.6m students, high unemployment and low graduate confidence, The Graditude is about introducing a change in graduate attitudes, putting confidence in the young frontier that carries the UK’s future and recognizing the same rules still apply as beofre a recession:

• There is no substitute for hard work
• The harder you work at applying, the luckier you will get in achieving, coincidence? Definitely not!

1. Unpaid Internships are illegal. The balance has completely gone, originally unpaid internships were an opportunity to gather useful/transferrable skills to take forward into a good paid position, and they were a short term opportunity. The problem is by their very nature, unpaid, they are not sustainable. Now, some employers see them as an opportunity to exploit graduates who need the job and money.

FACT. If an intern's role has set hours and responsibilities then that intern is contributing to the performance of the business,  the company is not allowed to not pay you! Even if the worker is happy to do it for free, and it’s great experience over not having a job at all, it is still lawfully wrong, and you deserve to be paid for hard work!

2. There are still jobs. News that 78 graduates apply for every job is intimidating to say the least, but the question has to be asked are graduates being pro-active enough in their job searching techiques, are they thinking outside the box to more SME businesses rather than mass application to the big companies seen on the times top 100.

We know there are still 100’s if not 1000’s of more jobs out there, and we want to help you understand different ways of sourcing these jobs, applying for them in the right way, and hopefully achieving success in your application.

3. You don’t have to settle for a Masters as a result of having no other choices Just because you have completed a second, higher qualified degree, it does not mean you will walk into a new job. Think carefully before you sign up for an expensive postgraduate course that may be of little interest to employers – and beware of the increasingly slick marketing methods used by universities (remember, education is a business now).

Candidates with a postgraduate degree shouldn't expect a higher salary either. Don't be the student who thinks by doing masters you are waiting for the recession to end and walk straight into a job, these days recruiters value Bachelor degrees as credible enough to secure any job you could wish to get post-university.

4. Do your research. Before you enter into an industry for your career give it a very thorough once over. By this we mean make sure it is sustainable, it has growth potential, and there are senior positions within it that you would one day like to do.

Remember you will be going to work every day, most of us for the next 45-50 years, you want to be damn sure it’s something that will get you out of bed in the morning.

5. No CV is perfect. Many graduates believe they can refine their CV to perfection, one which is flawless and could walk into the Chief Executive of Apple Role within the 5 year mark. Don’t be unrealistic, employers understand that as graduates you substituted work for education in the early part of your life, be transparent about this and sell the experience you do have rather than creating experience you don’t, you will be found out

A top tip is to have a short and punchy CV, complimented with a strong Linked In profile, 1 in 4 potential employers now check linked in profiles before inviting graduates to participate in the selection process, make sure if you are chosen, you profile sells you in the best light possible.

6. Don’t be desperate. The recession has installed neediness amongst graduates, giving employers a wide selection of graduates at their disposal. Remember you have a lot to offer a  business, you may not have the specific experience, but you do have the transferrable skills from your degree to pick up new things fast, be thorough in your approach to work and drive towards results, these are all employers need in young talent, you don’t need to beg!

Use you cover letter to sell how brilliant you are for that specific role, never make a generic cover letter, employers will know, personalize to the specific role and spell out just how perfect you are.

7. Mix up your job searching strategy. Generic job applications are mind numbing, employers hate them, wouldn’t you? Think outside the box, home in on exactly what employers are looking for, and present them in your CV an application. If you don’t you simply become one of the 1000’s, if you do you become an interesting candidate who obviously wants that role and that role only. Always think from the employer’s perspective, and sell accordingly.

Different industries require different approaches. Networking won't get you a public sector job – the procedure there is formal and structured. Few media people have ever filled out an application form – it's all about contacts and grabbing opportunities. Have the courage to ditch what isn't working – and try something new which might. What have you got to lose?

8. Some experience is better than none, no matter how irrelevant you think it is. From cleaning toilets to interns at UBS, experience is experience, it shows you understand real life and how business works, get it in your CV.

9. Always…. Always be professional. From phone interview to face to face, always look the part, speak confidently and consider what you are about to say. No matter what any employer says, any time they can make a judgment on you they will, don’t be naive to think they are just really nice guys looking for new mates at the lunch of an assessment Centre, subconsciously they will be making judgments. This isn’t the Bourne Identity so don’t be scared, all we are saying is consider how you come across, and make sure it’s the best you can be. Yes, be professional when you're applying for jobs, but be yourself.

10. Always be confident in your own ability and know you can do anything you set your mind to, because you really do have a great deal to offer.