BE PREPARED TO GET INTO EMPLOYMENT
YOU’VE got the degree but now the real work starts — finding a job. Richard Garner offers this year’s university leavers top tips to boost their chances of employment.
- Arrange work experience or internships while at university.
- Ensure any gap-year experiences, such as working for a charity are chronicled in your CV. It shows evidence of an enterprising spirit.
- Research the company or employer you are seeking a job with before the interview. Make sure you know exactly what it is, what it does, its ethos and its history.
- Memorise any skills you may have that are relevant.
- Prepare the night before by ensuring your clothes are neatly ironed and pressed and smart. Depending on the ethos of the company, you should be dressed in smartcasual clothes.
- Think of questions to ask them — there is nothing worse than saying ‘no’ if they ask you whether there is anything you want to know at the end of the interview.
- Smile when you enter the room and ensure your posture is upright. Slouching will leave a very bad impression.
- If you are offered a hand to shake, shake it firmly as a sign of confidence and composure. Also, do not sit down until invited to do so. It could be seen as casual or insolent behaviour. If you normally fidget, try to put your hands in front of you and rest them on the desk in front of you.
- Oh, and do mention that first you got from Oxford in your CV and if asked to talkabout your qualifications. It may be the case that the number of firsts awarded has tripled in the past two decades and that it will not be your guarantee of getting a job. It will, however, be a guarantee of your not getting the job if you fail to remind the interviewer of how well you have done at university.